Tag Archives: Google

AI

OpenAI Releases GPT-4 AI System That powers ChatGPT & Bing

OpenAI Releases GPT-4: A Multimodal AI That Can See and Write

OpenAI, a research organization backed by Microsoft, has just announced the release of its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-4. GPT-4 is a large multimodal model that can accept both text and images as input and generate text outputs based on them. It exhibits human-level performance on various professional and academic benchmarks, such as law exams, code generation, and language translation.

What is GPT-4 and what can it do?

GPT-4 stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4, which is the fourth iteration of OpenAI’s series of large language models that use deep learning to learn from massive amounts of text data. GPT-4 has 1.5 trillion parameters, which is 10 times more than its predecessor, GPT-3.5.

GPT-4 is trained on a diverse dataset of text and images from the web, covering topics such as news, books, social media, Wikipedia, and more. It can generate coherent and fluent text on almost any topic given a prompt or a query. For example, it can write an essay about climate change, a summary of a book, or a product review.

But what makes GPT-4 different from previous models is that it can also accept images as input and generate text based on them. This means that it can perform tasks such as:

  • captioning photos
  • describing sketches
  • or creating websites from mock-ups.
  • It can also combine text and images to generate multimodal outputs such as memes or comics.

GPT-4’s capabilities are an improvement over the previous model, GPT-3.5, in terms of reliability,
creativity, and handling of nuanced instructions.

OpenAI tested the model on various benchmarks, including simulated exams designed for humans, and found that GPT-4 outperformed existing large language models. It also performs well in languages other than English, including low-resource languages such as Latvian, Welsh, Hebrew and Swahili.

How can you use GPT-4?

OpenAI has made GPT-4 available to developers and researchers through its ChatGPT platform and its API (with a waitlist). ChatGPT is a chatbot service that allows users to interact with GPT-4 using natural language. Users can choose from different personas and topics to chat with GPT-4 or ask it questions. The API allows developers to integrate GPT-4 into their own applications and customize its behavior using parameters such as temperature (creativity), top-p (diversity), frequency penalty (repetition), presence penalty (topic drift), stop sequence (end token), etc.

OpenAI has also been working on each aspect of the plan outlined in its post about defining the behavior of AIs,
including steerability. Developers and programmers can now describe the AI’s style and task in the “system” message. A great deal of personalization is possible for API users within bounds, allowing them to customize their users’ experiences.

What are the limitations and risks of GPT-4?

Even though GPT-4 offers many advantages over earlier models, it still has some limitations. Using language model outputs in high-stakes contexts should be done with caution since it can still “hallucinate” facts and make reasoning errors.
GPT-4 does not know about events after September 2021, so it can make simple reasoning mistakes
Assume false statements to be true and accept them as true. Moreover, its code might introduce security issues when confronted with challenging problems like humans.

There are times when GPT-4 makes confident, but incorrect predictions, and its work is not always thoroughly checked. The base model is good at predicting the accuracy of its answers, but this ability decreases after post-training. Despite GPT-4’s benefits, it poses new risks, including the generation of harmful advice and buggy code, or missing information.

OpenAI has made many changes to GPT-4 to make it safer than GPT-3.5 and has been working to mitigate risks.
For example:

* It uses filters to block harmful content such as hate speech or personal attacks;
* It uses alignment techniques to ensure that its outputs are consistent with human values;
* It uses transparency tools to provide provenance information for its outputs;
* It uses feedback mechanisms to allow users to report errors or abuse;
* It uses governance structures to oversee its development

smart home

4 Modern Smart Technologies For Your Home That’ll Make Your Life Easier

Most people have a lot to do in their daily lives: a 9-5 job, caring for kids, making dinner, cleaning the house, finding time for hobbies and extracurricular…some people even work two or more jobs to make ends meet!

Well, the good news is that you can streamline your daily life with smart home technology, and it is amazing! It’s trending in 2020 and becoming a staple of many home and kitchen appliances.  From the simple things in life, from turning your lights on and off or setting your alarm to the more complex voice activation and surveillance, smart home technology can do it all.

 

Here are four of the most popular modern smart home appliances.

Amazon Echo

The Amazon Echo is a Bluetooth smart speaker that features a familiar voice: Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant. You have easy access to the breadth of content on the internet if you need to look up recipes, gifts for your family, play your favorite YouTube video…whatever you need!

You can also integrate Alexa with your smart lighting system, Nest thermostat, cameras, and much more. We’ll go over more of these modern smart devices below. But before we do, here’s a cool way you can integrate your Alexa with other devices.

Pair Alexa with IFTTT, which stands for  If This Then That, and you’ll have increased functionality across the board. IFTTT allows you to connect your smart devices to one another, and automate all reminders, alerts and toggle chains (for lights, thermostats, and more).

The Echo family includes smart tablets and speakers as well that you can check out here.

Philips Hue Smart Lighting

Even something as simple as turning on and off your lightswitch can be made even simpler and automated. The Philips Hue Smart Lighting products allow you to change the intensity of your lights and the color! Sure, colorful lights aren’t a necessity for your home, but they can be a great surprise for your guests or a fun way to inject some life into a party.

At the very least, you can integrate the lights with your Google Assistant, Alexa, or IFTTT for incredible ease of use.

Check out Philips Hue Smart Lighting here.

Google Assistant

Like Alexa for Amazon, Google’s developed its own virtual assistant, Google Assistant. Google has incredible access to its own search engine data. This makes it tremendously powerful when it comes to assisting and alerting you and helping you get through your day more efficiently.

In October 2019, Perficient Digital conducted a study that showed that the Google Assistant answers more questions than Alexa, Siri, and other voice assistants – it’s also more accurate than its competitors. The Google Assistant was found to be about 90% accurate and uses natural language better than its rival Amazon Echo.

You can find the Google Assistant here.

Nest Thermostat

Rounding out this list is the Nest Thermostat. This smart thermostat works with most heating and cooling systems and allows you to control your thermostat from your smartphone! It will even automatically turn up and down your home’s temperature as you come home and leave. That way you only pay to heat or cool your home when you are there. It’s brilliant!

Not only that, but Google reports on their site that “Independent studies showed that Nest saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling.” So you’re getting great savings and exceptional convenience!

With the Nest, you can ensure your home is comfortable, always.

Thanks for reading about four of the most popular smart home technologies. These products will bring you savings, convenience, and they’re great conversation starters. When was the last time you saw someone with red and green lights in their family room?

 

So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy the latest in home automation.

Internet, New

Why Your Site Desperately Needs Search Engine Optimization

You have probably heard about search engine optimization (SEO). From a scientific point of view, search engine optimization is a series of steps aimed at increasing the site’s search results. By using SEO, you can list new user sites quite high on search engine sites. High-ranking websites can be found on the first available search engine page, while lower-ranking websites can be found several pages down.

Today, Internet users are impatient and refuse to search for information for more than a few minutes. Content that cannot be found is useless. Your site needs information that can be found easily. According to HigherVisibility, it is important for online companies to optimize their website SEO.

6 Important Elements of SEO

• Your Target Audience & Niche

• Research Keywords

• Intent of User

• Analytics and Reporting

• Mobile and Technical  SEO

• Crawling and Indexing

Why optimize your company’s SEO?

The Internet has been used mainly to collect information, but the situation has changed significantly. The growing number of Internet users and new technologies is a good marketing tool with many other factors. The growth of e-commerce, for example, shows that Internet technology can benefit website owners.

For any Internet user seeking similar goods or services, online advertising may be useful. Statistics show that more than a third of Americans are Internet users. With an online presence, a company is more attractive and accessible to the public. Consider this, there may be thousands of people every day looking for your products, but because your website lacks SEO, they buy from your competitors instead of you.

This is not necessarily because your competitors are better, their site has just found an effective way to top search engines. As hard as it might look, high rankings are not rocket science. Your website can also use search engines to get lots of traffic. It only requires a little optimization.

Does my site have to be the first result on search engines?

The answer, yes. There are many reasons why you need your site to rank in the top 5 sites. First and foremost, being highlighted on search engines in this way links your business to being one of the most famous companies in your city. A customer often gets a great first impression and can plan to visit your business based solely on the visibility of your site.

Your prestigious rank gives customers greater confidence in your company, even if they have never experienced your service personally. This method seems stereotypical but works almost 100 percent of the time. That is why SEO supports and often uses this stereotype to its advantage. Major sites are usually seen as the most prestigious company with the best service.

Secondly, many people will be interested in a first-page ranking site simply because Internet users are impatient. It is well known that 95% of Internet users do not look beyond the first 10 sites on the results page, so the higher the rank, the bigger the traffic. With a website on the fourth page of your search engine, you’re almost guaranteed to have a failed online business. The fourth page typically attracts less than 2 percent of Internet users. Consistently aim for the top five search results, and you can’t go wrong.

Why does the list of requirements matter?

The optimization of search engines requires time and money and the involvement of a number of experts, including customer experts. Your site cannot be on a competitive market to ensure rapid results. The promotion doesn’t stop, even after a site is secured in the top ranks. The content must be updated regularly.

Search engines also rank sites according to how much time a user spends on a page, but a large amount of text does not attract visitors. Actually, it’s known to do the opposite. Some good ways to keep your visitors’ attention would be to use thematic videos, high-quality photography and info-graphs to divide the articles into blocks. Quality content must be created, but you don’t have to do all the work alone. Experts, authors, publishers, designers, and photographers are available on freelance websites to help you add a new online article with at least 5,000 characters or more every two weeks.

Marketing

How Augmented Reality Represents A Marketing Bonanza

The mobile augmented reality (AR) market is projected to reach a staggering $79.77 Billion by 2022 and will be one of the fastest growing sectors in upcoming years.

Functionality has already spread far and wide. Emergency responders use AR to help them train to coordinate dangerous situations. In healthcare, an AR scanner called AccuVein projects vein density on a patient’s arm in real time so injections and taking blood can be quick and easy. Another App can even project surgeon’s hands onto another doctor so they can match movements for complex procedures.

AR is prevalent in helping those with disabilities. Recently, Temple University received part of a larger AR related grant to create glasses that would facilitate captioning for live performance for HOH and Deaf patrons. The same tech can be used for ESL or Foreign language speakers.   

However, people probably best recognize AR from games like Pokemon Go — where frenzied players were able to capture their favorite creature avatars in order to gain advancement in the game. Retailers at the time were quick to realize that a Pokemon stop near (or in) their location meant increased foot traffic and tried to capitalize on the phenomenon.  

From there marketers could truly realize the potential for AR tech. Ostensibly there are a few of major avenues where AR intersects with marketing right now.

Wayfinding

Google Glass ended up looking a little goofy, but the technology promised by apps like Google Lens, which gives consumers ways to access businesses easily just by looking at the facade, may revive the glasses wearable. In AR, companies can offer discounts and coupons that entice passersby or using software like wikitude, the app can actually lead a customer to their desired location. Already, Gatwick Airport uses a sophisticated wayfinding AR feature to help people get to their gates quickly and efficiently. It is possible for any business to incorporate this kind of tech too.

AR is usually thought of as a way to add imagery to a screen, but it can also be used as a focusing tool to take away distractions. For example, there is tech being designed to help grocery shoppers get only what they need for a recipe or to see only gluten free options so they don’t pick the wrong items.    

Product Pre-Assessment

Another way AR is being used effectively in retail markets is in product assessment prior to purchase. This is accomplished in a number of innovative ways by smart retailers. Ikea’s virtual catalog has become a standout in the area with the ability to scan your room and digitally place a piece of their furniture in a spot of your choosing so customers can see how they like the look and color of something before purchase.

Other retailers have created variations on this same theme. Warby Parker scans your face and places their glasses on you, so you can avoid going to the store to try on all their styles. L’Oreal has a way to see how their makeup might look if you were to apply it. Clothing retailers also are allowing shoppers to visualize clothing without going to a changing room. And some even make changing room options easier with smart mirrors that allow you to see the garment you are wearing in different styles or colors without having to search around the racks.

In a similar vein, architects, interior designers and the real estate industry has taken up AR for their marketing efforts. Prospective clients can virtually visit their construction projects or look at their current furniture in a planned new house.

Improved Engagement

Other retailers have seen how AR helps with general product engagement. Lego has created AR stimulated kits that “come to life” when seen with their app. Disney has similar functionality with their coloring books. Movie posters also have been using AR to target cinema goers, giving them an additional thrilling glimpse into a film while waiting in line for popcorn.

Is AR Tech Too complicated for me?

The most intriguing part is how AR is becoming more democratic in its use. Applications like Adobe Spark AR and Apple’s ARkit allow anyone to get in on the ground floor with things like Instagram logos and simple AR additions to branding.

The question of how to assess metrics however, is still evolving. How does an AR view compare with a video view, for example? Marketing consultancies like CleverTap provide strategies to connect meaningfully with demographics and to assess ROI — and they also have get to know AR articles and infographics to help marketers get the hang of why and how to use AR for their own products.

See the infographic below for a quick guide to the ins-and-outs of AR tech. The best part, however, is that the applications for AR are still being worked out. Anyone could have the next innovation in AR in the marketing sphere — maybe a floating fish that eats your emotions will be the next big thing. Or maybe you have a good new idea.

Internet

What We Can Learn from Google Updates to Improve Our Marketing Strategies and Performance

Some digital marketers might yearn for life without Google updates because they think that it would be easier for them to attain the marketing goals. However, is it so? Those who are even slightly aware of the good that the updates can do for marketers would prefer to take its advantage for taking their marketing initiatives to new heights. The updates are the early signs of things to come and the sooner you can pick the signals, gain knowledge and stay prepared; you stand to make good gains in SEO. You will experience improvement in search rankings and traffic flow that promises of higher conversions and sales

Updates will happen

Google has to keep launching updates, which are nothing, but algorithmic changes, most of which are minor and few major ones. The Google search algorithm undergoes regular and continuous changes because of Google’s commitment to serving users with the best experience in searching. Indeed, this is not the only reason because the need to stay updated with the technological advancements compels Google to update the algorithm time and again. On an average, Google releases 500 to 600 updates in a year, and this has been happening ever since its inception. It points to the fact that Google works relentlessly to provide the best platform for online marketers.

Staying updated

The continuous changes happening in the technological arena like the advent of the social media, the popularity of mobile devices and similar developments impact the behavior of users. As user behavior keeps changing, Google adjusts its algorithms to suit the behavior of providing them the best experience.  As a result, marketers receive new directives in the form of updates. A typical effect of Google update resulted in providing a guide for real backlinks when the focus shifted to the quality of backlinks and not its quantity as it used to be earlier. In this article, we have discussed the reasons that prompt Google to release updates. We will also evaluate the benefits marketers derive from updates.

Updates can do much good to marketers

Although there are reservations among some marketers about Google updates, there is no good reason for it. Google wants to keep improving its game and marketers who can adjust to the changes as quickly as possible, would reap the rewards.  There is a wrong perception about updates that marketers look upon it as some penal action, which it is not.  Taking the updates in the right spirit would elevate the marketing campaign, as marketers can derive lots of benefits from updates. It is the unnecessary fear that arises from ignorance that holds back marketers from taking advantage of Google updates.  However, marketers have no choice but stay tuned to the updates or algorithmic changes because being on the wrong side would spell the doom for the marketing campaign.

The motivation for creating high-quality content

Content is the prime mover of the marketing campaign, and it is not for nothing that people consider content as king in marketing.  Despite admitting the need for quality content, marketers often tend to lose direction in marketing and fall back upon low quality and thin content hoping to make gains in link building. However, with the release of Google Panda update, there is no place for any low-quality content in the campaign. As low-quality content drives you nowhere, the update compels marketers to create high-quality unique content that is long enough to provide its inherent strength.

Well-researched, informative and relevant content creates better user engagement, reduces bounce rates, drives more traffic and improves conversions. Long content attracts Google too, as it looks upon it as value providing content that is capable of improving search rankings. In-depth, innovative and educational content that we now see around us is the result of Google Panda update.

Keep the content fresh

Google updates have helped to do away with stale content. Marketers eager to remain in the good books of Google have understood how important it is to maintain a steady pipeline of contents so that they can serve fresh content to viewers. Whenever you publish fresh content on the website, Google not only indexes it but also awards a score for it. To keep earning the recognition of Google, marketers have no choice but keep producing fresh content on a continuous basis that ultimately pushes up search rankings. At least, one new content every week is the norm today.

Increased brand awareness

Some of Google’s algorithmic changes have compelled marketers to give more emphasis on branding.  The trend of stuffing internal links with keyword rich anchor text is now gone. Instead, including brand names in the anchor text has helped marketers to give the brand building exercise a boost.

Updates are good for marketers provided you can understand it in the right perspective.

 

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About the author: Derek Iwasiuk is a Google webmaster who has acted as a guide for real backlinks in several top-notch SEO projects.  His knowledge and experience have helped many marketers to change their fortunes. Derek is fond of books and reading thrillers is what excites him most.

Mobile, software

5 Best Ways To Fix Battery Drain on Android

The battery draining issue is one common problem that every user faces no matter if you are using a laptop, smartphone or any other device. While the device battery performance is significantly improved when it comes to today’s smartphone devices still they are not immune from draining issue completely. Here, we have discussed top 5 fixes to deal with fast battery draining issue on your Android device.

Restart Your Device 

Try this simple yet one of the most effective steps to instantly fix the battery draining issue on your device. Here, rebooting your device will help you close all unnecessary background apps & services that are causing the battery drain. Further, it will also help you fix other issues to boost your device performance.

Use Built-In Battery Optimization Feature

Knowing the fact that you may perform numerous tasks simultaneously on your Android device that may affect your battery life, your device manufacturer has offered a built-in battery optimization feature. Using this feature, you can manage and optimize your battery usage by individual or all apps in one go. This effective feature helps you manage battery usage in an optimized manner by different apps by reducing their consumption. To access this feature on your device, go to Settings > Battery and here click on menu (three vertical dots) in the upper right corner.

Now select “Battery Optimization” option. It will open a new window, here select “All Apps” option from drop-down menu. It will help you optimize battery usage by different apps instantly. To manage battery usage by individual apps, you can sift through different apps under “App usage since full charge” option. Here, you can look for those apps that are consuming a lot of device battery and optimize them instantly. In addition to built-in battery optimization feature, you can also use best Android cleaner & optimization apps to boost your device and battery performance.

Force Problematic Apps to Stop

This is more intense step, but it can help you fix apps that are causing problem on your device. You can use this feature to block usage of any app temporarily. Here, swiping apps closed doesn’t save battery as they may run in the background continuously. To completely turn off any problem app, including its background services, you can consider using force stop option. It will work like a “hard reboot” for an app. To force stop any app on your device simply go to your device’s Settings App and select Apps & Notifications > App Info option. Here, you will find all apps on your device simply select the app that you want to force stop and press “Force Stop” button.

It will instantly stop that app from consuming any device resources. To start this stopped app, open it as usual. If the issue persists, you can uninstall and reinstall the app again. Remember, force stop option isn’t available for all apps and stopping essential apps or services could affect your device performance negatively. Or your device won’t work correctly.

Uninstall Problem App

This is another extreme step, but it will help you fix the battery draining problem effectively. When you have certain app/s on your device that is consuming lot of device resources including battery then you can consider it uninstalling & reinstalling it to fix the problem. To identify that app, you need to keep tab on app usage in real-time and battery draining percentage simultaneously. Once you identified the battery-hungry app/s, you can consider uninstalling them. To uninstall any app on your device, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Info. Here, scroll down to find that app, select it and press on Uninstall button. Later, you can reinstall these apps from the Google Play Store. Remember, you may not uninstall pre-install apps. In that case, you can Disable them.

Update Software

If you are running your device on old software then there are high chances that it is the possible reason behind battery draining issue. Here, with each software update you not only get bug fixes, security patches and other security features but it also helps you improve your device’s overall performance. To update your device, you can install all the updates that your manufacturer sends you at regular intervals or you can do it manually. To update software manually, go to Settings > System > Software Update. Here, it will look for all available updates and help you install them.

While there is a long list of tips & tricks to help you improve your device battery performance here we have discussed 5 effective steps to do so. If you know more such fixes, then feel free to comment below.

Metadata: The battery draining issue is a common problem with any smartphone device including Android. Here, we have discussed ways to deal with this problem in an effective way to boost your device performance.

Hardware, Internet

Amazon Echo Vs. Google Home: Which Is Best?

Many of you will be thinking about buying a smart speaker. You may have read articles and looked at prices, but you’re left a bit confused when one person says they prefer the Amazon Echo and says Google Home is superior. This infographic from Half Price takes you through how the two compare in different areas.

Let’s look at the voice assistant feature and according to the infographic the Echo wins because of an extremely comprehensive skills category. Skills are essentially smartphone apps and can help you do things like learn a new word.

However, for music and movie playback, it looks as if the Home is the clear winner. It allows you to listen to audio from Google Play Music and of course YouTube. You can also stream music and movies to the speaker or even connect to other speakers in the house if you’re using a Chromecast.

The reality is that both devices are always improving, and it will be interesting to see how they develop over the next few years. Find out more in the infographic.

Mobile

How Will AR and VR Change The Way We Use Our Smartphone?

From all the game-changing technologies waiting for us just around the corner, AR and VR are possibly the most exciting. It would not be disproportionate stating these tools will change our everyday lives as drastically throughout the upcoming decade as smartphones did during the previous.

But what are we exactly looking at, and how exactly will these technologies add new and interesting layers to our modern lifestyles and interpersonal communication? Read on for an overview of the new and improved realities ahead.

AR and VR Explained in a Nutshell

To begin with, it might be worth to clarify how exactly AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) relate to one another. While they can often be complimentary, AR and VR are essentially going in different directions: AR involves adding layers of information to the real world, thus augmenting the scope of our perception. VR hinges on altogether conjuring immersive virtual worlds separate from physical reality, but possibly sourcing information from it.

We already have several useful apps drawing from AR technology, such as when you point to a monument to instantly see information about its origins or when you’re out trying to catch loveable pocket monsters on the go. An even better example would be the well-known Google Glass project, which ambitiously tried to provide a comprehensive framework for everyday AR that feeds us with useful and relevant information streams out of thin air.

When it comes to VR, it’s been a while since we’ve had virtual worlds where people can take up second lives and adopt fictional personae as well as chatting with real world acquaintances while exploring computer generated realities. But now we’re looking at the rise of new gadgets such as the Oculus Rift, Sony’s Project Morpheus, or HTC Hive – which allow us to fully immerse in such worlds. This is where things are really getting exciting, and the boundaries between real and virtual will gradually begin to blur!

How Smartphones Perfectly Bridge the Gap between AR and VR

At this point, you should be clear on our communication styles will shape up through the development of AR and VR. What might not yet be fully clear is why our smartphones hold such a tremendous potential of becoming universal portals between our augmented everyday realities and the ever refining virtual realities:

By design, smartphones already are the most logical tools to use for exploring augmented reality – thanks to their built-in cameras, absolute mobility, and widely prolific application ecosystems. With a little add-on, any smartphone can further evolve into a fully functional VR headset, thanks to its multi-core processing power and high-definition screen. This concept was beautifully demonstrated in the Google Cardboard project, and the upcoming commercial grade smartphone-to-headset devices will surely raise the bar to outstanding levels.

It shouldn’t take long until smartphones become so powerful they altogether make bulkier computers obsolete, and coupled with a VR extension they will deliver bigger, better and more immersive video experiences than any conventional display can possibly do, no matter how large or how pricey. These are very exciting times to live in, and we have much to look forward as our everyday realities become augmented and virtualized. Are you looking forward to an augmented virtual future?

 

tablets

The Top 3 Best Tablets on the Market

 

When you’re ready to dish out some money for a new tablet, you obviously want to buy the best there is on the market. So, when time comes to buy, what should you look for? What are the best new models you can buy today? These are a few of the best tablets you can find on the market today, if you are ready to buy right now.

Amazon Fire 
With a 1.3 GHZ processor, a 7” screen, and excellent picture resolution (1024*600 pixels) you won’t find many tablets at this smaller screen size which has such excellent colour contrast and resolution. Add in the very light weight of only 11 ounces and you can literally carry this thing around without even feeling it in a bag. The 8 GB built in storage, and Amazon OS are fast, and allows for added storage if you need it. Excellent touch screen, easy to use features, and a small, sleek, elegant design, make this a must have tablet, especially for such a low-price point in comparison to other top manufacturer names in the marketplace.

Surface Pro 4  
This Microsoft tablet is another great option. It is sleek, has the unique kick stand design, detachable keyboard, lighted keys, and a very cool looking exterior. It features a larger screen size at 12.3” you can use it like a laptop, eliminating the need to own two devices. The 2.3 processor speed is extremely fast, so you won’t experience lag time or slow speeds, even if you are down or uploading, watching, or playing games, on the device. 1920×1200-pixel resolution also means sharper images, better depth perception, and great color disparity on screen. A bit pricey, but considering it can be a tablet as well as a laptop in one, it is a bundle and a great bargain.


iPad Pro 7
Apple has done it again. If you love large screen sizes, the 9.8” design is truly a great size you won’t find with many competitors on the market today. With the iOS operating system, you won’t be disappointed with speed, ability to browse the web, or do nearly anything (work or play) on this device. It is very responsive, has built in safety fingers (like fingerprint technology), and the 2048×1536-pixel resolution, makes it the very best, and provides the best screen resolution and image quality, regardless of what you plan on using the iPad to do. It is very thin, it is very light, and it comes from the most trusted developer in Apple.

A true must have device, but do consider the high price tag if you are comparing this with other Android based devices which are much cheaper in the price spectrum. The  iPad Pro7 can be very expensive depending on the model you go for. Luckily catalogue companies have started to provide different payment plans like buy now pay later, pay weekly, pay monthly. Over the past few years buying tablets on finance has become more and more popular due to the price of the product.

No matter what you are looking for when it comes to buying a new tablet, you have hundreds of options out there. For the budget shopper, for the high-end shopper, and for those who are in between, these are three great models to consider, which will offer great resolution, speeds, and quality, for the price point you can spend when purchasing a new tablet.

Applications, software

Best DIY Tools For Creating Apps

 

Creating a mobile app has never been easier. You don’t have to wait for months and spend a ton of cash on developers to have your app made just the way you wanted. This is especially important for those on a tight budget, as developers often charge by the hour and costs can pile up faster than you’d imagine. Fortunately, nowadays you can make a professional-looking app without actually having any coding experience yourself, thanks to various mobile app makers available online.

Now, you might be wondering what exactly are mobile app makers? To put it simply, they represent online platforms who offer development services for making mobile apps. What makes them special is the fact that they are designed to be used by individuals who have absolutely no prior coding experience. They are packed full with all the standard features a mobile app might need, such as:

  • Location-based services
  • Social network services
  • Push notifications
  • Specific seller-oriented features
  • Multiple paying options
  • Diverse templates
  • Rich customization options

What sets mobile app makers apart from the traditional app development practices is the cost efficiency. Most start-ups find it difficult to invest hundreds and even thousands of dollars into app development. This may even deter some entrepreneurs from making the experience mobile in the first place, which may save some money in the beginning, but ultimately, limit the business in the long run. This is why mobile app makers are an excellent choice for those on a tight budget. Although they could never replace seasoned developers, I tried to pick out the top six mobile app makers available at the time of writing this article.

1.      AppInstitute

AppInstitute has won quite a few startup awards and is currently the main mobile app maker in the United Kingdom. It’s the number one choice for local businesses due to its excellent e-commerce features, coupled with customizable menus, catalogs and an easy to use content manager. It also has rich booking options, which aren’t restricted only on managing appointments, but also provides the user with video events and other engaging content. The price varies depending on whether you’re looking for a monthly or a yearly subscription, with the starting package costing $8.00 per month, or $6.00 when billed annually.

appinstitute

2.      Como DIY

This app maker boosts its success with over 1 million apps powered by its platform and clients such as Coca-Cola, Burger King, and even BMW. Flashy names aside, this company provides a long list of features, including appointment scheduling, e-commerce integration, event planning and management, user reviews and even a loyalty card feature. That’s why Como is the preferred app maker of choice for restaurants, galleries, and other event-oriented establishments. There are seven available templates which can further be combined with six navigation styles. Payment plans only include a monthly, yearly or a bi-yearly subscriptions which cost $57, $48 and $41 respectfully.

como-diy

3.      GoodBarber

GoodBarber is a platform which offers the most advanced app making features available for both Android and IOS. Users can control every single detail of their app and for those who don’t, there are numerous templates available coupled with over 350 gorgeous icons and little over 600 different Google Fonts. What makes it unique is the instant visual feedback users experience when adjusting the parameters. Although it does not have an integrated online store, users do have the option of adding Shopify, Amazon or Etsy. The pricing starts at $16 for the standard package, $32 for the full and $48 for the advanced plan.

goodbarber

4.      ShoutEm

This app maker presents itself as a very refined and elegant product. It features a complete content managing system, resourceful tools for engagement and different monetization options. What makes ShoutEm great is the seamless integration with the existing sources such as Foursquare, WordPress, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and even Soundcloud. It also supports mobile advertising, which allows the user to regain some of the finances spent on ShoutEm. It’s not the cheapest provider available, with the price starting at $19.90 a month for the Basic plan. If you wish to publish directly to the Android or Apple stores, then you need to get the Advanced, $49.00 per month plan.

shoutem

5.      AppMachine

This easy-to-use platform aims to automate the building process by importing everything the app might use from sites such as Facebook and Twitter and even your RSS feeds. The creators had the idea to use the various aspects of the platform as it were made of Lego bricks, which directly translates into the app making experience. Using the drag-and-drop interface, users move and organize the features as building blocks. These include anything ranging from pictures, videos to online stores and links to social networks. Users have a complete control of the layout with customizable icons, colors, fonts and navigation paths. Currently, they are offering a $49 Plus and a $69 Pro plan. Fortunately, there are two bundles available, one at $99 per month and the other at $300.

appmachine

6.      Appery.io

The last contender on our list is Appery.io, a leading cloud-based platform for the fast development of mobile apps. The fact that it’s cloud-based means that nothing needs to be downloaded or installed in order to make the app. Not only that but most app makers which are focused only on iOS and Android devices, Appery.io users can also make apps for Windows Phones. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use even for the most inexperienced users. That said, Appery.io boasts a massive catalog of plugins available for both the inexperienced and advances users and it supports creating custom plugins and sharing them with the community. You can use the platform for free or pay $180 for the premium service.

appery

In Conclusion

As you can see, making a mobile app without any programming experience is possible. The platforms are all graphic in design, some using the drag-and-drop interface while the others use simple check-box type, on-off switches. Most of them are pretty straight-forward to use and if you have any issues, the app makers offer video and graphic tutorials and excellent customer support. You don’t need to worry about hiring expensive programmers in order to have a professional-looking app that reflects your business.

 

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john

By John Stone

Author bio: John Stone is a business consultant and web entrepreneur.  Through years of experience, he became a devout believer in the notion that form should always follow function and that developing the ability to think outside of the box is a prerequisite of being a successful entrepreneur. He currently advises companies about Web Design in Sydney. You can get in touch with him on Twitter.

 

Internet, Social Media

Blogging, Social Media and SEO within Google Chrome: 15 Best Extensions

 

When you’re a blogger, there are simply too many tasks you need to perform on a daily basis, from finding the right topics to link building and much, much more. However, the functionalities in your web browser can help in performing these daily tasks conveniently. Considering how Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser on the planet (according to StatCounter, almost 50% of people accessed the Internet using Chrome from October 2015 to October 2016), we’ll take a look at some of the most useful extensions, that will make your job easier.

Blogging Extensions

1. Pocket

1

If you want to know just how good Pocket is, just look at its credentials: in 2014. Pocket won a Webbly award for best productivity and it now has a user base of over 15 million people worldwide. It’s a rather simple tool that allows to save numerous articles, videos and notes for later reference.

2. Grammarly

2

While every version of Microsoft Word will keep your spelling in check, but when you write online, most of us make spelling and grammar mistakes regularly, mostly because we’re trying to type as fast as we can. Thankfully, Grammarly will ensure that you never make a typo again and end up looking stupid because of misplacing a couple of letters. It also scans your text for proper use of more than 250 advanced grammar rules in real-time.

3. Fireshot

3

If you want something that will eliminate the mundane print-paste-edit routine, and quickly grab screenshots of websites and save them as a JPEG, GIF or a PDF from within Google Chrome, then Fireshot is the right extension for you. You’ll be able to capture both entire pages and just visible parts, and it’ll even allow you to add comments, blur selected areas and apply other effects to your captures.

4. Google Publisher Toolbar

4

The Publisher Toolbar is designed to assist web publishers view data about their Ad Exchange, AdSense and DC for Publisher accounts from a single dashboard within the Chrome browser. You can also block any unsuitable creative you don’t wish to display on your site or blog. After you install GPT, all the ad units on your site will get an overlay that’ll display information like the buyer name and display URL.

5. Break Helper

5

Sitting in our chair for prolonged periods of time is literarily killing us – sitting 6 or more hours each day increases risk of premature death up to 40%. Now, even if you don’t care about your health that much, you have to be aware that working at a stretch without taking a break can result in a sharp decline in productivity. Therefore, you should install Break Helper extension, and it will let you know when you need to take your next break, and let your overworked brain relax for a second.

Social Media Extensions

6. Rapportive

6

Even though this part of our list is dedicated to social media, let’s talk about emails. I’m guessing many of your interactions still happen within Gmail, and while you’d like to start a conversation going on LinkedIn, you’re almost certainly stuck doing the delayed email back-and-forth with new contacts every other day. But Rapportive will provide you all the information you need about your email contacts, including their social profiles, which will allow you to easily add every contact on social media.

7. StayFocusd

7

Even if you’re making money of your blog, it doesn’t mean that don’t suffer from bouts of procrastination from time to time. But even though technology is a source of distraction, it can also be a source of discipline you desperately need. StayFocusd will limit the amount of time you can spend certain site. It also lets you choose what to block – an entire website, a specific web page and even different types of content like videos and games.

8. RiteTag Social Media Optimizer

8

Do you spent much time wondering which hashtag you should use for a certain story? Maybe you’re unsure whether adding a particular hashtag will add or diminish the value of your message? Thinking about these problems can be quite time-consuming, especially if you’re person that tweets more than ten times every day. However, Rite Tag provides analytics on hashtags you regularly use, which will help you save a lot of time.

9. Figure it Out

9

One of the biggest challenges you face when working globally has nothing to with cultural differences or even language barriers. Your main challenge is figuring out what it is in a different geo-region without doing the math. With the Figure it Out extension, you’ll be able to add up to ten different time zones, which will help you schedule your posts and even set up meetings with people from different regions.

10. VPN Extension

10

This item on our list is not only reserved for people who live in countries like China, Vietnam and Portugal, where the government blocks access to certain social media sites. It is also recommendable to anyone that likes to write from their dorm room or favorite coffee shop, because regularly block access to certain sites. Of course, there are many providers on the market and the selection of a VPN extension is all up to you, but we have to recommend ExpressVPN, because it offers a wide range of servers and unlimited bandwidth.

Search Engine Optimization Extensions

11. Open SEO Stats

11

This is perhaps the most popular SEO extension for Google Chrome, marketers often use it see PageRank, Compete Rank and QuantCast Rank and get quick access to info about backlinks, indexed and cached pages, among other things. This basically means that Open SEO gives you a complete overview of any information about any website on the Internet.

12. iPage

12

Google Toolbar is always great for [age ranking, but seeing how it isn’t available for Chrome, you’ll want an alternative. And luckily, iPage Chrome is just that. It allows to set your settings to show page rank in results, or show rank for individual pages and domains. All in all, it is a small, but nevertheless useful page rank checker extension.

13. Shareaholic

13

Shareaholic might not be a “real” SEO extension, but everyone knows the importance of social media likes, shares and general presence in search engine ranking. So, you could easily use this app if you want to increase your ranking. The extensions allows you to share your article on multiple social media platforms at the same time, which will make your workload much quicker and definitely easier.

14. MozBar

14

Moz Analytics one of the most popular analytics tools among SEO marketers, and MozBar is surely the favorite Chrome extension of almost all marketing professionals. Once you download and install this extension, you’ll instantly have access to almost any SEO tool you need, and see various metrics like Link Profile, KW Highlights, Domain and Page Authority.

15. SEO SERP Workbench

15

You’ll never need to search the SERP position of any page manually once you get SEO SERP Workbench. The tool also allows you to see the ranking on the go, and it is great when you want to look up the SERP of multiple URLs. Last but not least, it supports multiple countries, so no matter where you’re from, you can check the SERP position of a particular website in your country.

While all of these extensions are great for bloggers, it doesn’t mean that you should download each and every one of them instantly. Instead, you should download at least couple of them, and see which ones suit your specific needs. After some trial-and-error, you’ll certainly find what you’re looking for.

——————————————-

afp

By Adam Ferraresi 

Author Bio: Adam always loved the Internet, so much so that he knew that he knew that he was going to become a web developer when he was just 12. He also loves the outdoors, basketball and surfing are his passions, and you can read his insightful articles at wefollowtech.com

Applications, Wearables

Top Wearable Android Watches of 2016

 

As like with the smartwatches, the software experience is nearly identical from one Android Wear to another. So, I turned to the most subjective features which make a top wearable Android watch to stand out from the rest. Though all of the Android wearable watches do the same thing basically for most of the times and with equal quality, they need to be ranked, weighed, and presented for your approval and support. Read ahead to check the Top Wearable Android Watches of 2016 and choose the most suitable for you.

1)    Moto 360 (2nd Gen) from Motorola

moto360

After its first launch, the original Moto 360 was the top rated Android Wear watch around for some time. And in my research, it is also placed at the top place. Going to the latest version (2nd generation), the Moto 360 has a Snapdragon 400 processor, a bigger battery than the original one and comes in different sizes to fit on the wrists of more people’s wrists.

It has the refreshed processing package, a customizable design and added lugs. Basic price starts at $299.99 and as you go with an increase in customization, the price also increases.

Specifications:

46-mm variant:

  • 512Mb RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 400mAh battery
  • 56-inch IPS LCD display with 263ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

47-mm variant:

  • 512Mb RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 300mAh battery
  • 37-inch IPS LCD display with 233ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

2)    Huawei Watch

huawei-watch

In 2015, the Huawei watch was introduced and it did many things right on the first try. It is one of the most attractive Android wear watches in the market with easily replaceable straps and a battery with the long life cycle.

It has a price range from $349 to $799 depending on the variety of styles and colors. It is the nearest arrival of the Moto 360 Android wear watch.

Specifications:

  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 300mAh battery
  • 4-inch AMOLED displays with 286ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

3)    LG Watch Urbane

LG-Urban

The LG Urbane is a more female-friendly watch than men. Its high-end styling is a bit dressier than sporty. Any variant you choose either gold or silver, the fully round bezel is surely eye and light catching.

Currently, you can get it for just around $250 on Amazon and eBay. If you want a luxury style, then you can go for the 23k gold version worth $1200 which is called Watch Urbane Luxe.

Specifications:

  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 410mAh battery
  • 3-inch P-OLED displays with 245ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

4)    ASUS ZenWatch 2

asus-zenwatch

After the original ASUS ZenWatch being the best Android wear watch for some time in the market, the company has brought the latest model with a little different philosophy. From going out of tradition, the latest ASUS ZenWatch 2 comes in a square display. It is a little powerhouse on your wrist.

For the basic model of ASUS ZenWatch 2, you need to spend only $129.99 on Amazon. You can choose from a 1.45-inch model or a larger 1.63-inch model whichever suits your wrists.

Specifications:

WI502Q (18mm) model:

  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 300mAh battery
  • 45-inch AMOLED display with 273ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

WI501Q (22mm) model:

  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 400mAh battery
  • 63-inch AMOLED display with 278ppi
  • 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor

5)    TAG Heuer Connected – Luxury Watch

img_attuned_to_your_touch

TAG Heuer Connected has changed the market of the Android Wear Watches. The Connected model from Tag Heuer is inspired from the company’s Carrera watch. It comes in seven different color options and made with a grade 2 titanium.

If you are a fan of luxury watches, then most probably you will love this watch. You can purchase the Tag Heuer Connected for $1500 from the company’s website. After wearing it for two years, you can get the more traditional TAG Heuer Carrera watch by paying additional $1500 only. It is enough to give you a long lasting alternative.

Specifications:

  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB Storage
  • 410mAh battery
  • 5-inch transflective LTPS LCD display with 240ppi
  • 6GHz dual-core 1.5-inch transflective LTPS LCD display

Conclusion

Choosing the best Android Wear watch from the above list is really a difficult task. It is really hard to keep track about the best because all of them are doing pretty well in their areas. The most accountable preference could be the size and the price of a particular watch for you. I have rounded up with the top wearable Android watches, now it depends on you to choose the right from this filtered list according to your budget and needs. Good Luck!

 

______________________

Author’s Bio: Mandip is a graduate in Information and Technology. He is a passionate blogger, SEO Specialist, and a Software Developer. He loves to write on technology, SEO, Internet Tips and Tricks. Currently he blogs at Best On Internet.

Applications, Mobile

Here’s How To Choose The Right App For Your Kid

 

We all know that these days students expect to access information using technology & they are comfortable with that. With the increment in cheaper smart-phones & good 3G-4G network, It is expected to  smartphone users count is going to reach around 1.75 billion. With the help of mobile apps it is very easy to access information anywhere anytime is always a big plus. By using chat rooms & discussion boards student can be engaged in a discussion outside of the class without having to go to the college. There are so many mobile apps have been launched by companies that are helpful for students & teachers. In infographic Tutors umbrella have attempted to explain how anyone can choose best mobile app.

Choose-The-Perfect-App

 

Design, Marketing

The Ultimate List Of AB Testing

1 Comment

Creative-Design

Building a conversion optimization strategy is a process. You’ve spent time on tracking, analyzing, building a hypothesis and building your test. Moments before you launch, take the time to go over the following AB test checklist to make sure you have everything you need and to ensure your test results are meaningful and scalable.

Everything you need to do before launching:

The first thing to do when you decide to start testing is ask yourself where you’re going to test. That’s where planning comes in. Usually you want to start where you can both have the biggest impact and also learn the most. Oftentimes, this is at the top of the funnel where there are the most users, but take a look at this section and see what works best for you.

  • Measure your website’s performance (Read more about where to start and what to track)

  • Use heatmaps to understand user behavior (Read more about heatmaps to increase conversion)

  • Define your goal – (e.g – registrations, sales)

  • Define KPI’s – what will you track?

  • How long will it take you to reach significance? Make sure to chose a part of the funnel that will generate results and matter.

  • If you have other tests planned or ongoing – would yours conflict?

  • Choose the best platform for your test

CREATIVE CHECKLIST

The design process of a test is where you make the difference. Knowing what to test and how will be the difference between a successful or failed test. The steps you take to optimize your assets will determine if your test results in relevant or non-essential conclusions. Here’s what you need to make sure of before you complete your new variation:

The Call to Action Button:

  • You have one call to action (CTA)

  • Your CTA is above the fold

  • The text on your call to action contains no more than one or two words

  • Your CTA is clear – people will know what to do immediately

  • The call to action button stands out – in color and size

The Content:

  • The content focuses on value – not features

  • Your headline matches your message on ads

  • Your title is actionable and tells people what to do

  • You’re using one font type

  • Your unique selling proposition is clear

  • You’re using social proof – testimonial, customer logos, reviews

  • Your keywords are relevant to your SEO needs

  • All text is HTML for SEO

  • You are mobile focused

  • You have no or a minimum of links on the page

The Main Visual:

  • You have no more than 2 main colors on your page

  • The visual compliments your USP

  • The visual directs user attention to the call to action

  • The visual projects trust and reliability

The Registration Form:

  • Requires a minimum of fields to get started

  • Required fields are easy to distinguish from non required fields

  • Highlights your USP and why people should sign up

  • You have a confirmation page/layer

  • You send a confirmation email to signups

PRE-LAUNCH CHECKLIST

Before launching your test, there are a few important elements you have to check. This AB testing checklist may take sometime to go through but once you move forward with your test, you’ll know it has been set up in the best way. You should always be sure that the changes you made are working well and are trackable:

 

  • Your goals are set up in Google Analytics

  • Your goals are set up in AdWords (if relevant)

  • Your Google Analytics tracking code has been implemented

  • Google Analytics events have been set

  • Images are rendering correctly

  • Adwords account is connected to analytics (if relevant)

  • Ecommerce tracking is enabled (if relevant)

  • Goals are firing within Google Analytics

  • Segmentation is correct: your experiment is appearing to the right audience

  • Page load time is at minimum – use Google’s speed test tool

  • Variation is compatible with all browsers using BrowserStack

  • Demographics and Interest reports are enabled on GA

  • All links work (and send to the right page)

  • All links open in new tab

  • Links have anchor text

  • Image size is at minimum

  • Variation is compatible with mobile or excludes mobile traffic

  • You’ve QA’d the entire funnel of your variation (not just the page you’re working on)

  • Heatmaps are working well

  • You’ve located any 404 non existing pages

  • Lead box is working correctly

  • Your main title is in H1

  • Experiment parameters are setup

Time to launch that test!

THE AFTERMATH

A test isn’t complete until we’ve reached conclusions, analyzed our results and have a plan for our next steps:

  • Test for a minimum of 7 days – to make sure there aren’t any changes due to special occasions or unknown criteria

  • Make sure you reach statistical significance. Don’t be quick to the trigger – allow tests to run to their full extent until you’ve reached significant validity

  • Analyze the data and draw conclusions

  • Get the team involved – the best way to keep testing is to showcase your results to others and get them on board with testing

  • Take the next steps – optimize

TOOLS

There are many tools that can make your job easier and faster:

  • Hotjar – The all in one solution for heatmaps, surveys, analysis and visitor recordings. If you haven’t tried it yet you’re definitely missing out.

  • Invision – Use invision for better communication around design and creative. Comment and collaborate on creative projects with your team and clients.

  • VWO – Like Optimizely, Visual Website Optimizer allows you to edit pages via its sleek user interface and AB test them without needing developers or designers.

  • Webmaster tools – Google’s webmaster tools lets webmasters tell search engines about their site to make it understandable by bots and maximize visibility to people.

  • Kissmetrics – Analytics platforms like these, in conjunction with Google Analytics, can give you access to extra-accurate and different types of reporting

  • Site speed checker – Speed checkers such as Google PageSpeed tool allow you to assess the load time of your page and learn of ways to optimize it

  • Test Significance Calculator – Sometimes, for one reason or another, we run AB tests outside of a true testing platform and just wind up with raw data. Having a significance calculator allows you to determine statistical significance in these scenarios.

 

This post was originally published on Conversioner blog

Internet, software

Google Chrome: How It Won The Browsers Battle

Worldwide-browser-market-share

Web browsers have become such a fundamental part of our digital lives. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t use one on a daily basis?!

The launch of Google’s Chrome in 2008 looked unlikely to knock Internet Explorer out the water but flash forward to now and it’s done that and much more.

On its way to glory, Google’s browser outpaced its Mozilla rival by taking a slice of 42.74 percent of all desktop browser market share, with Internet Explorer gaining 13.17 percent in the second place, and Mozilla Firefox with only 11.72 percent on the third.

Chrome has definitely conquered the world, with the popular browser continuing to dominate all three major channels: mobile, desktop and tablets.

 

Find out how it reined supreme here:

How-chrome-won-the-war-of-the-browsers

 

Infographic is courtesy of cloudsolutions

Applications, software

InboxVudu Helps You Quickly Get to the Important Emails In Your Inbox

InboxVudu

I’m sure you all probably know how utterly frustrating it is when you get your mailbox full of email that you just don’t have the time of day to read and respond. The tricky part is that you can’t actually see or decide which is more important than the other and therefore should be given priority when you finally have some guilt-free time left over.

InboxVudu is a new startup that’s looking to solve this problem. The service which was recently launched to the market in Beta mode and which is claiming to be your inbox’s best friend, will help its users to determine the importance of each email that finds its way into their inbox, by (hopefully) letting them know in case they happen to find themselves “in danger of missing an important email or forgetting to follow up with someone on time.”

inboxvudu_ipad

The service which uses advanced Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning technologies will basically hook up with your Gmail or Google Apps account in just a few clicks, while working silently in the background to make sure you get some sort of a “too long, didn’t read” version of your incoming emails and help ensure that you do not forget to respond to those important messages getting lost in the rest of the inbox.

Although the service is in private beta, InboxVudu was nice enough to give Technologer readers 100 invites so that you can try it out, free of charge.

General, Internet

Looking For a Way to Completely Delete your Embarrassing Photos From Social Media? Here’s How

You know how it is with the youngsters these days, they go to a party, have a few drinks and laughs, take some awkward selfie photos and then immediately post ’em on their favorite social media hub (e.g Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or even Google Plus). So what happens next, you may be wondering? Well, it’s getting to be very embarrassing when they finally realize how critically harsh and incredibly painful these social networks can possibly be. Just try to imagine the high volume of inflammatory comments and the damage which might result from it. Not exactly what they would have expected, eh?

Perhaps too late for some, but it is only then when they get to know the proper ways on how to manage their social media life. But how can you minimize the damage caused by your own actions (or others)?

As scary as it may or may not sound, there are a few options out there to get this done.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about the steps you can take when you find embarrassing photos online.

how-to-remove-photos-from-socialmedia

Mobile, Operating Systems

Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Now Available for Nexus Devices

android-5-lollipop

It’s Android Lollipop day, as Google has announced it will officially start rolling out OTA updates for its latest and greatest Android 5.0 OS to several Nexus devices, including the Nexus 5 and the Nexus 10, which will go straight from KitKat to Lollipop, Nexus 7s, plus the Nexus 6 and 9 which are both currently getting “minor” bugfix updates. It appears that Samsung and Sony users will have to wait a bit longer for this update as well as Nexus 4 and 3G/LTE versions of the Nexus 7 devices.

According to a recent post on the Google Product Forums the details of the new update are as follow:

The over-the-air update for Lollipop is now starting! The update is starting for these devices:

Nexus 6: Minor update to address bugs
Nexus 9: Minor update to address bugs
Nexus 5: Update from KitKat to Lollipop
Nexus 7 WiFi (2012 & 2013): Update from KitKat to Lollipop
Nexus 10: Update from KitKat to Lollipop
It will also be put up on Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Note: The OTA update for 3G/LTE versions of the Nexus 7 2012 and 2013 have not yet started, nor have they started for the Nexus 4!

The files are available for download now from Google’s developer site.

Update: Motorola has also announced an official OTA release of the latest Android Lollipop update for its second-gen Moto G and Moto X mobile devices. The mobile company has posted on its website the following:

We’ve started to roll out Lollipop in phases just a week after the public release of the software to the following devices in the US -Moto X (2nd Gen.) Pure Edition, Moto G (2nd Gen.) US GSM, and Moto G (2nd Gen.) Global GSM retail versions sold in the US.

tablets

Google Introduces The 8.9-Inch Nexus 9 Android Lollipop Tablet

Google-Nexus-9-Android-Lollipop-tablet

We knew it was coming and now Google has finally shared details with its upcoming tablet, the Nexus 9. Slated to arrive in stores on November 3 (with pre-orders to start on October 17), the 8.9-inch 2048 x 1440 super HD slab, which was built in partnership with HTC, features a relatively small and portable device, made of a brushed aluminum all-metal body. The slate, which is set to cost about $399 for the 16GB packing version and $479 for the 32GB model is said to arrive with 2GB of RAM, as well as an Nvidia Tegra K1 chip, and a 8-megapixel rear camera shooter plus a 1.6-megapixel camera up front. The Nexus 9 will also include an optional 32GB 4G LTE variant, which will brandish a price point of $599 when it’s officially released.

The Nexus 9 is powered by Google’s latest edition of Android, also know as the Android Lollipop version 5. In addition to that, the Mountain View-based internet giant will also be offering a nice keyboard folio that magnetically attaches to the back of the tablet, and can easily fold into two different angles. The Nexus 9 will have a black, white or gold choice of colors.

[youtube id=”yYHY3MFiq1o”]

[Google]

General

This Is How People are Going To See In The Future [Infographic]

Contact_Lens

Google has been capturing our rich imagination through developments like Google glass, prompting widespread discussion about the future of tech, ‘wearables’ and vision in general. Just think about the awe-inspiring number of opportunities to use the new gadget in different type of daily scenarios, and what might the future of the discipline look like and how might it best progress; perhaps a ground-breaking app for Google glass that will allow the user to take a photo just by thinking about it and look in a certain direction? That would definitely be cool, but also a little shady, to say the least.

And what it requires to get to the next stage? How about a smart contact lens that could monitor anything from blood pressure levels to recorded brain signals, and diabetes sugar rates? Perhaps it’s the same science fiction you use to believe in some catchy Hollywood movies, or maybe just a new and better reality for some people in the far or near future.

To learn more about the way things might look in a few decades from now, be sure to check out this nice and detailed infographic chart:

How-We-Will-See-in-the-Future

This infographic was compiled by Supersavers Opticiand

[Image credit: wikipedia]

tablets

LG G Pad 8.3 Tablet Finally Gets The Google Play Edition

1 Comment

LG-G-Pad-8.3-Google-Play-Tablet

Although LG has already introduced the G Pad 8.3 tablet more than three months ago, it didn’t announce the Google Play Edition, and gladly it is doing so today. The new 8-incher which has been specifically designed to take on Google Nexus 7 directly, is running the latest and greatest stock version of Android 4.4 (KitKat) under the hood, along with similar ingredients that we have already encountered before, including a stunning 1920 x 1200 Full HD IPS display, a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 system-on-chip, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage,  5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel shooter up front. In addition, the 8.3mm thick device, which happens to retail for exactly the same price as the regular one ($349), boasts the best technology in terms of connectivity (e.g NFC, Bluetooth 4.0,  and dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi), paired with a 4600mAh battery and a microSD card slot.

There are many benefits of having a stock Google Android machine instead of the company version, particularly when it comes to the frequency of updates, simplicity in UI, the absence of bloatware that can slow the system down, and the overall performance, which it is expected to deliver. The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is now officially available via Google Play — are you getting one?

tablets

Samsung Refreshes Their Tablet Lineup With a New Galaxy Note 10.1 Slate, 2014 Edition

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Electronic giant Samsung  is set to refresh its tablet roster this year. The South Korean corp. has revealed new details about the 2014 edition of the Galaxy 10.1-inch tablet, which is expected to have an upgraded high-resolution screen of 2560 x 1600, compared to previous Galaxy Note 10.1 model that came out to the market with only 1280 x 800 pixels. Moreover, the new Galaxy 10.1 iteration will boast Sammy’s powerful 1.9GHz 8-core Octa chip under the hood, with 3GB of RAM, and your choice of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of internal storage (expendable up to 64 via microSD).

The new Note 10.1 will run Google’s latest and greatest Android 4.3 platform, alongside a much better software, including a better multitasking functionality, and improved S Pen and S Note support. To some people’s disappointment, the new slate will continue to have Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI running atop, rather than going with a stock Android experience, instead. Nevertheless, it is truly a beautiful device, offering a slim and sleek look, with a stunning glossy plastic design (in black or white colors). Not to mention the top-notch technology on board, such as Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a front 2MP webcam plus an 8MP rear shooter with BSI, AF and LED flash situated underneath, an 8,220mAh battery, WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, USB 2.0, 3G data enhancements, and 4G LTE frequency support.

We still have no idea what price the the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 iteration will launch with but, given the specs we can guess it will be within the $400-$600 range, depends on the type of configuration: Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi / 3G, and Wi-Fi / LTE. The slab is due out sometime in Q3.

Update: Samsung will be pushing out the tablet to US buyers starting October 10th, with Wifi-Only prices ranging between $550 for the 16GB model, and $600 for the 32GB flavor. Moreover, you’ll be getting a 3 months voucher to spend on Hulu Plus, as well as 50GB of extra online storage on Dropbox, another 3 months freebie subscription for the New York Times magazine, and a 52-week subscription to the Bloomberg Businessweek outlet.  

[youtube id=”_Hfp-IAyCto”]

Video courtesy of PhoneArena

 

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The New Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 Delivers Unparalleled Tablet Viewing, Productivity and Mobility

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) delivers the ultimate productivity and beauty

Berlin, Germany – September 4, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and convergence technologies, today unveiled the GALAXY Note 10.1, 2014 Edition, an original approach to balancing productivity, powerful content creation and consumption in one portable tablet device. Equipped with WQXGA Super clear LCD (2560×1600) resolution in a stunning 10-inch display, 1.9 GHZ Octa Core processor (for 3G / WiFi only version) and 3GB RAM, the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) demonstrates Samsung’s innovation leadership by delivering ultimate productivity capabilities while remaining extremely thin and light.

“The new GALAXY Note 10.1 is the most progressive 10-inch tablet, delivering the best viewing and multitasking experiences. It is the most recent demonstration of Samsung Mobile’s focus on constant product innovation to stay aligned with shifting consumer interests,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “The GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) unites a range of features that will consistently surprise consumers as they realize how much easier and more enjoyable it makes their everyday lives.”

The new GALAXY Note 10.1 expands on the advanced productivity and creativity leadership delivered by the original Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1. In addition to enabling productivity, the device has been redesigned with a sleek, light, slim frame that is both fashionable and portable.

Richer Viewing Experience, Enhanced Multitasking

The large, bright and crystal clear screen delivers four times the pixel density of the original GALAXY Note 10.1, providing a premium content viewing experience.

The magazine style UX allows users to organize their favorite resources in an easy to use dashboard and then access that content for a stylish reading experience. Whether watching videos or reading magazines and e-books, the new GALAXY Note 10.1 provides an immersive media consumption experience. New design characteristics, like a warm and textured back cover with stitching, inspire a sense of elegance and sophistication.

The device’s screen size also enables enhanced multitasking. With Multi Window, users will be able to run separate instances of the same application, and use an enhanced S Pen to drag and drop content from one window to another. Pen Window enables users to simply draw a window of any size on the screen, and instantly access unique in-application features such as YouTube or calculator.

Improved S Pen and S Note Functionality

The updated S Pen included with GALAXY Note 10.1 improves responsiveness, delivers day-to-day efficiency enhancements and produces more creative input capabilities. The tablet also includes GALAXY Note 3’s updated S Pen features such as Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write and S Finder. Combined with the tablet’s larger screen, these enhanced S Pen capabilities present users with unique creative opportunities and the space to explore them.

With new Scrapbook capabilities, users can easily indicate any interesting content with the S Pen and organize it into individualized scrapbooks, creating a log of discussion points for a future work conversation, a wish list for new clothes or a home redesign project, or a personal favorites list.

S Note has been upgraded with a more intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Users will have access to both note files and notepads, with the ability to use the S Pen to take handwritten notes. With Easy Chart, hand-drawn visualizations of data can be instantly transformed into more formal charts and graphs.

Offering Content for Enhanced Entertainment and Creativity

The new GALAXY Note 10.1 will also offer a host of exciting partner content that complements the device’s entertainment, productivity and creativity properties. With premium partner applications and free memberships and services, the new GALAXY Note 10.1 provides everything a user might need in one place. The Samsung Content Gifts include content from leading news sources such as Bloomberg Businessweek+, The New York Times, Autodesk Sketchbook for GALAXY for painting and sketching, a redesigned version of social broadcast network Twitter optimized for the device, and much more.

In addition, the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will also include a Samsung Apps widget that will direct users to additional beneficial content provided by Samsung. The widget will live on the home screen and include a “Special Offer for GALAXY” section that will highlight unique, country-based content for users.

Samsung KNOX, comprehensive mobile security for consumers and enterprise

The new GALAXY Note 10.1 comes with enhanced privacy and security protection provided by Samsung KNOX. Users can activate Samsung KNOX with ease which allows them to run and store security-sensitive applications and data inside a protected execution environment called “container.” The security inside the container is strengthened by system-level protection of Samsung KNOX against malware and phishing attacks as well as hacking attempts on physical devices when devices are stolen or lost. For instance, important personal pictures or video can be stored in the container with no worries for data leakage due to hacking. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar and allow the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync Server). These features make the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) an ideal device for BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device to work)

The GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will come in three connectivity options: WiFi Only, WiFi and 3G, WiFi and LTE, available in 16/32/64GB + Micro SD. Comes with two color options, Jet Black and Classic White, the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will be offered globally and will be available starting from Q3, 2013.

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IFA, tablets

LG Unveils The G Pad 8.3 Android Jelly Bean Tablet, Set to Take on The iPad Mini

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LG has officially introduced the G Pad 8.3 to the world, which is the latest addition to the company’s Android family of devices. The new slate, which sports an eight-inch screen with full-HD (1920 x 1200 WUXGA) display, is likely to compete with the likes of Apple’s iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7, both of which have been around for quite some time and have sold in very high numbers. The new gadget that will make its debut at the IFA event this week, includes a massive 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor under the lid, as well as 2GB of RAM, a 4,600mAh battery, dual camera at 5MP on the rear and 1.3MP on the front, about 16GB of internal storage and Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 running on top. The 8.33m thick device is said to weigh 338 grams, which is about as the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0. In addition it’ll boast the usual Wifi/Bluetooth connectivity, alongside the company’s QPair and QSlide software enhancement onboard. At this point in time there is no pricing information to share with you, however it will be available worldwide, in black or white, some time in Q4.

Update: The G Pad will be available to buy in retail from November 3 for as little as $350.

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LG TAKES ON GLOBAL TABLET MARKET WITH ‘LG G PAD 8.3’

New Tablet to Debut at IFA 2013, Worldwide Rollout to Follow

SEOUL, Sep. 1, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) today announced the LG G Pad 8.3 tablet, the latest addition to its G Series lineup of premium mobile devices. The all-new LG G Pad 8.3 boasts the first Full HD display on an 8-inch class tablet, a unique user-experience and wide range of connectivity features. Set to officially debut next week at the IFA 2013 trade show in Berlin, the LG G Pad 8.3 builds on the recent launch of the LG G2 superphone, reinforcing LG’s commitment to leadership in advanced mobile devices through its premium G Series products.

“Complementing our G Series smartphones, the introduction of the LG G Pad 8.3 further strengthens LG’s premium lineup consisting of our most cutting-edge devices,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our G Pad is just another example of LG delivering devices with the unique selling points consumers around the world will appreciate.”

Pocket-Sized Portability with Powerful Battery
Despite its large display, the LG G Pad 8.3 features a slim and sleek form factor that is comfortable enough to hold in one hand. Such compact portability is based on LG’s learning from consumers regarding the optimum size of a tablet. While maintaining its portability, the LG G Pad 8.3 squeezes in a powerful 4600mAh battery for long-lasting usage time but is still as light as a newspaper at just 338g.

First Full HD Display Tablet in 8-inch Class
Incorporating a key attribute of other premium G Series devices including the G Pro and G2 smartphones, the LG G Pad 8.3 is the first 8-inch class tablet to offer a Full HD display. The G Pad is equipped with a 1920 x 1200 WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) display capable of delivering picture quality with even higher resolution than a standard Full HD display. In addition, the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Processor with 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU enhances the viewing experience with powerful performance as users will be able to enjoy Full HD content without any compromise.

True Convergence Experience with QPair
The LG G Pad 8.3 meets the demanding requirements of the convergence age by improving connectivity between multiple devices. With the unique QPair app, every call and message received on a smartphone will appear on the G Pad for a true convergence experience. Users can then send simple replies through the LG G Pad 8.3. QPair also allows the G Pad to easily connect to other manufacturers’ smartphone and tablets (Jelly Bean OS recommended). Notes created on the G Pad’s QMemo can be seamlessly saved into users’ smartphones and shared from either device.

User Experience Maximized for a Tablet
The LG G Pad 8.3 offers practical features that provide real-life benefits, such as enhanced multitasking. Thanks to its 8.3-inch Full HD Display, user experience (UX) features unique to the LG G Pad 8.3 are maximized for the large screen:

1. Slide Aside enables seamless multitasking by simply “sliding” currently open apps off to the side using a three-finger swipe
2. QSlide controls up to three different apps in one window with no interruption, especially convenient on a large screen
3. KnockON turns the device on and off by tapping the display twice

The LG G Pad 8.3 will be rolled out globally in key markets including North America, Europe and Asia as well as other regions starting in the fourth quarter of 2013. Prices will be announced at launch time.

Key Specifications:
– Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 Processor
– Display: 8.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels / 273 ppi)
– Memory: 16GB eMMC
– RAM: 2GB LPDDR2
– Camera: Rear 5.0MP / Front 1.3MP
– Battery: 4,600mAh
– Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
– Size: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm
– Weight: 338g
– Colors: Black / White

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tablets

ASUS MeMO Pad FHD 10 LTE Gets Detailed in New Video

With an official release only a short time away, Asus has just released a new spankin’ video with more details about its upcoming tablet, the ASUS MeMo Pad FHD 10 LTE. There’s lots of details in that clip, suggesting a Snapdragon quad-core processor under the hood, alongside a 10-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display with 178 degrees of horizontal viewing angle. Pretty decent for a slab,  if we may say. 

The 9.9mm thick device will also include a 10-hour battery, as well as a rear 5 megapixel auto focus camera, and a microSD card slot with which you can expand your memory by another 64GB of storage for pictures, videos, music and much more. There’s also an optional Folio Key keyboard cover accessory that you can buy if you want, together with an integrated WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth 4.0. The sleek, lightweight slate will also supposedly feature a pair of stereo speakers behind, and is likely to be sold range of different colors. Pricing and availability for this LTE version are yet to be disclosed.

[youtube id=”08h5_vu4kY0″]

tablets

New Nexus 7 Available For Pre-Order at $229.99 With Android 4.3 On Board

3 Comments

Oh my my, what do we have here? It looks like Google is all set and ready to launch the new iteration of its popular Nexus 7. The tablet, which is the product of joint venture between Google and Asus will soon be featuring a 1920 x 1200 display resolution (323ppi), along with 2GB of RAM, and a powerful 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 processor, with Adreno 320 for the graphics. In addition, this highly anticipated device, which proves to be a great upgrade to the already high level of quality in the first generation, will pack a 5-megapixel camera on the back (about time!) while the front-facing camera will sport 1.2 megapixels, and the slate will run a future generation of Android 4.3 OS. The pre-order page at Best Buy suggest it’ll go for between $229.99 with 16GB of internal storage, and  $269.99 with the 32GB option.

Update1: Google officially announces the Nexus 7. Google’s Sundar Pichai says that the new device is 2 mm thinner, 6 mm narrower, and 50 grams lighter than the earlier Nexus 7. Further more, the Android 4.3 machine includes dual band wifi (802.11 a/b/g/n), along side the NFC technology and 4G LTE support. There’s also an HDMI output to connect the tablet to your tele, together with a Bluetooth 4.0 and wireless charging capabilities.

Update2: The Nexus 7 will be available Stateside on 30 July in wide range of stores and retailers like Amazon, Walmart, RadioShack, and Best Buy. Other countries, such as Canada, UK, Germany, Spain, France, Japan, Australia, and South Korea will hopefully get the new slate sometime in the following weeks. 

[youtube id=”5LysTmwDan8″]

Check out this quick hands-on video, courtesy of Android Police.

[youtube id=”PO2ZsvwRMuY”]

tablets

Samsung Introduces a New Line of Galaxy Tab 3 Tablets, Including 8- and 10.1-Inch Flavors

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Samsung-GALAXY-Tab-3

 Samsung has already announced a 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 version, and is now planning to add at least two more. The first in that range is the 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 flavor, which would run an Android 4.2 for the OS, and will feature a WXGA TFT 1280 x 800 (189 PPI) display, alongside a 1.5 GHz Exynos dual-core chip, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB or 32GB of internal storage at your choice, expandable up to 64GB through a microSD slot. In addition to that, we’re looking at a 4,450mAh battery pack in that slate, accompanied by a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.3-megapixel shooter on the front. Prices are yet to be set, so you will have to wait a little while, before you can choose from the three different variants, including the WiFi only version, WiFi + 3G HSPA-Plus and WiFi and LTE form.

The 10.1-inch model is particularly interesting since it would be the first Samsung Android-powered device that uses an Intel processor on board. And if we are really going to get down the nitty gritty stuff, the ten incher Tab will have an Intel 1.6 GHz dual-core processor under the lid, paired with a 1280 x 800 (149 PPI) WXGA TFT screen, 1GB of RAM, a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera and another one at the 1.3-megapixel range, up front. The battery life is much better in this slate thanks to a 6,800 mAh battery pack, and the storage selection is pretty much similar, with either 16 or 32GB, supporting up to 64GB via microSD slot. This device will be running on Android 4.2 operating system as well, and will hopefully go on sale with the three same variants.

Both slates set to be launched in early June 2013.

Update: Samsung has just updated the pricing and availability of the Galaxy Tab 3 lineup on its network. The new tablet series which includes 7, 8 and 10.1-inch sizes, is going to hit US shelves (at Amazon, Best Buy, Office Depot and Wal-Mart, stores) on July 7th, with prices starting at $199 for the 1.2GHz 7-inch model (with a dual-core processor, Android 4.1, 8GB of storage and 1,024 x 600 resolution), $299 for the 8-inch version, and only $399 for the 10.1-incher. 

 

[Samsung]

tablets

6 Best Android Tablets For 2012

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android-tablet-device

Android tablets are the cost effective and best for people who are looking forward to get a new tablet and are not fancy about  iPad. Although, there are many other options to go like PlayBook from BlackBerry, HP Tablets and so on, Android is currently the best-selling tablet and it is on the way giving strong competition to Apple devices. Are you wondering to know the best Android tablets for the year 2012? The following Android tablet review list is as follows that help you acknowledge some details on best Android tablets for this year. Take a look after the break.

 

Continue reading 6 Best Android Tablets For 2012 →

tablets

Nexus 7 3G Android Tablet Now For sale at $299

The Nexus 7 is already a big hit all over the globe, and it’s barely out of the factory doors. With top-notch specs (such as 1GB of RAM, a beautiful 7-inch display, NFC, GPS, Android Jelly Bean for the OS, a front 1.2MP camera, plus a Tegra 3 processor on board) and affordable $200 price point, the decision of buying this tablet is perhaps the easiest one to make, for so many people, both techy and non. Until now, the Nexus 7 was a WiFi-only device, as many of us with basic challenges prefer it. Today, however, the search engine giant is adding a 3G compatibility to practically all carriers across the US pond (and for use with GSM carries around the world), as the mobile data version will from now on be available with SIM unlocked form. The new Nexus flavor is offered in a 32GB storage capacity only, and it comes priced at $299, or about $50 more than the regular Seven slate is. Click through the link to read the original Google source.

 [Google Play]

tablets

8-Inch Dual Core Archos 80 Cobalt Tablet Announced

You didn’t honestly think that a company like Archos would sit aside and let the big moguls (e.g Google, Amazon, apple) play the game all by themselves, did you? Good, because the French tablet maker has just announced a new addition to its Elements line, dubbed the Archos 80 Cobalt. Right from the beginning  one can sense that this tablet has an 8-inch capacitive display on top, crammed with 1024 x 768 pixels and 1080p video playback support. Other than that I couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary. There’s a dual-core 1.6GHz processor under the lid, tucked with a quad core GPU, Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (Expandable via micro SDHC Slot up to 64 GB). If you’re into it, there’s also a 3.5mm jack for your headphones/speakers and a Micro USB slave 2.0 port, alongside a rear 2-megapixel webcam and a 0.3 shooter on the front. Again, there’s no pricing or availability yet, but if Archos wants to win, it will have a lot to do to catch up with the competition.

[Archos]

tablets

Google Nexus 10 Tablet Leaked With Android 4.2 and Super AMOLED Screen (Update: Now Official)

2 Comments

Google’s Samsung 10-inch joint venture tablet, the Nexus 10, just leaked ahead of launch (which was scheduled for October 29 but postponed due to weather conditions). Of course you should take all this with a little grain of salt, but the pictures and video footage (after the break) speak a million words. Not to mention Google’s Senior VP of Engineering, Vic Gundotra that was posting some images the other day (taken with a Nexus 10 device) on a Google Plus page of his own.

So basically, there’s something in the new horizon. What is it? According to the guys over at BriefMobile, we’re looking at a 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos 5250 dual-core slate, powered by a strong Mali-T604 GPU and paired with 2GB of RAM, about 16GB of internal storage, a 5MP camera on the back and some top-notch connectivity features like NFC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The screen on this slab works with a very exceptional 2,560 x 1,600 HD resolution, and this new iteration is claimed to be running an Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on board. 

For now, let’s just hope it will go live as expected, and will do just as well as the Nexus 7 model 

Update1: It sure didn’t take long for Google to officially announce the Nexus 10, a 10.055-inch tablet made in partnership with Samsung. As already stated, the new device will indeed pack a whopping 2,560 x 1,600 screen display at 300 ppi – a Retina-level display that is impressively thin and stylishly designed. Moreover, it will also include a 1.7 GHz Cortex A15-based Samsung Exynos 5250 processor inside, as well as a Mali T604 GPU, 2GB of RAM,  a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera plus a 5-megapixel rear shooter, microUSB, Pogo Pin, microHDMI, Android 4.2 for the OS and some cool built-in features that we all have come to know. 

It will be available starting November 13th for $399 (16GB) and $499 (32GB), in countries like the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan.

Update2: We have just added a chart, comparing the Nexus 10 to some of the most popular tablets available in the market

[via BriefMobile]

 

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The table is courtesy of engadget.

Media Players, Music

Sony Launches New Line of Walkman Products

Today, when tablets have become very popular, and mp3 players are considered “meh” it is rare to see a company at such high-profile as Sony announce plans to launch a new range of small media devices, that people barely notice anymore. But that will not deter a company like Sony in pursuing business opportunities, right? Well, as a matter of fact, it has just rolled out a few different types of new music players; among them you’ll find the Walkman F800 and the E470/570 series. And while the F group is more of an upscale, high-end look, the E series is an entry-level set at the top of the line.

So what do really get and for how much? The Walkman F800, Sony’s new flagship player, is said to run Google’s Android 4.0 platform out of the box, along with a 3.5-inch display, WiFi / Bluetooth connectivity, fairly reasonable 4.5 hours of video playback, and storage capacities of 8GB/16GB/32GB at your choice, with a European launch expected in the next coming months, and prices vary, starting at about £210 ($280).

The E series, on the other hand, is expected to be a lot cheaper than the F. The noise-cancelling feature in the Walkman E570 lineup is one of the most noticeable things you’ll find in this upcoming iteration , and it’s expected to pack a 2-inch LCD screen, as well. Another model in that series, the Walkman E470, is likely to sell for around £80 (or $80), in a wide variety of colors and a battery life of up to 36 hours for music playback . The new versions will also have an optional dock that can charge ’em up and increase their volume level.

Lastly, there’s the Walkman S770BT model, for those who like to stream music over their bluetooth wireless speakers.

Full PR after the break.

 

Latest Walkman® MP3 players from Sony with Android™, Bluetooth® and digital noise cancelling

Walkman® F800 Series: Web-enabled with Android™, 8.9cm/3.5″ multi-touch LCD and S-Master MX Digital Amplifier
Walkman® S770BT Series: Wireless listening with bundled Bluetooth® headphones
Walkman® E570 Series: Brilliantly clear sound with digital noise cancelling
Walkman® E470 Series: Vibrant colours and 36 hours battery life1

Walkman NWZ-E470

Experience your perfect summer soundtrack, with the new range of Walkman® MP3 audio and video players from Sony.

Whatever your tastes, you’ll be satisfied by legendary Walkman® sound quality. Clear Audio technologies by Sony assure richly-detailed sound, with deep, powerful bass, crystalline highs and reduced leakage between stereo channels. Walkman® even restores those subtle high frequency details that get lost when you’re listening to heavily-compressed digital music files.

This summer’s line-up of MP3 audio and video players by Sony includes the sleekest, slimmest Walkman® models ever. Just 7mm thin, the new S770BT and E570/470 Series take up little space when they’re slipped into a pocket or bag. With up to 36 hours play time1 from a single charge, there’s plenty of stamina to keep you entertained on long journeys. And if you’re looking for a supreme listening experience, Walkman® F800 Series brings you an exciting world of ultra-detailed hi-fi sound, Wi-Fi connectivity and apps.

All new Walkman® models are compatible with Music Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network, allowing easy access to the millions of music tracks on offer2. As part of a simple monthly subscription, Music Unlimited lets you transfer your favourite personalised playlists and ad-free radio channels to Walkman®, so you can enjoy a world of music discovery even when offline.

It’s easy to load up your existing media collection, too. Walkman® supports drag-and-drop transfer of music, photos, videos, podcasts and playlists from iTunes (non-DRM content only) or Windows® Explorer.

Walkman® F800 Series
Walkman F series
Treat yourself to an extreme on-the-go entertainment experience. Powered by AndroidTM 4.0 (“Ice Cream Sandwich”), the web-enabled Walkman® F800 Series lets you enjoy a generous range of pre-installed apps, from email to maps and media gallery. Connect wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth® and download more from an ever-growing choice on Google PlayTM. Interacting with your media collection, apps and games is a pleasure, thanks to the large, highly-responsive 8.9cm/3.5″ multi-touch screen, plus plenty of processing power for smooth, speedy responses.

You’ll enjoy crisp highs and full, thumping bass powered by S-Master MX Digital Amplifier and five Clear Audio technologies. You can even share your sounds out loud via the built-in xLOUD® speaker system that cuts distortion and unpleasant clipping for clearer listening.

Walkman® S770BT Series
S 770
Supplied with colour-matched in-ear Bluetooth® headphones, Walkman® S770BT Series lets you enjoy your favourite sounds without a tangle of wires. Even when your Walkman® is in a pocket or bag, it’s easy to make fumble-free volume adjustments or skip tracks with handy controls on the headphone cord – while Walkman® stays safely hidden.

At home or on the move, Walkman® S770BT Series can also stream high-quality sound to other Bluetooth® compatible devices3, like speaker docks, home audio systems or your car audio system.

Walkman® E570 Series
Walkman NWZ-E570
Immerse yourself in a world of pure, uninterrupted music when you’re commuting into college or just relaxing at home. Walkman® E570 Series can reduce background sound levels by 98%4, thanks to its unique combination of built-in digital noise cancelling technology, and the high-quality noise cancelling headphones that come supplied.

Walkman® E470 Series

Walkman NWZ-E470

Enjoy a perfect introduction to the world of crisp Walkman® sound and powerful bass with slim, colourful Walkman® E470 Series. It’s packed with fun features like Karaoke mode and synchronised lyrics display to help you get the party started. New to Walkman®, there’s even a choice of entertaining games to enjoy on the bright, detailed 5.1cm/2″ LCD screen while you listen.

Also available, Walkman® E473K includes a portable speaker dock with eye-grabbing new styling that’s great for sharing your sounds out loud, whether you’re indoors or relaxing in the garden with friends. Powered by the MP3 player’s internal battery, the dock delivers punchy sound with rich bass while being small and light enough to carry with you anywhere.

Walkman NWZ-E473K

The new Walkman® range of MP3 audio and video players from Sony is available in Europe from 18th July 2012.

Mobile, Phones

Samsung Galaxy S III Now Official

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Samsung has finally put the rumors to rest by announcing its next iteration mobile phone, the Galaxy S III. In a splashy London event, the South Korean giant revealed that the next-gen Galaxy handset will feature its new 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad processor, alongside a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display, with 1280 x 720 pixels on top. There’s 1GB of RAM under the lid, paired with a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera and an 8-megapixel rear shooter. The 8.6mm soft plastic device which weighs 133g, is the latest and greatest in mobile technology. It is said to boast eye tracking support (by all means) and top notch capabilities, such as the “Smart Stay” feature that knows whether we are looking at the screen or not, a very sophisticated Siri-like voice recognition, missed calls/messages technology that lets you auto dial when you pickup the phone, S Beam technology that ease the way you share photos and videos with some other Galaxy S III machines (simply attach them back-to-back with each other), and last but not least,  a social media friendly platform that features “The fastest and easiest way to share with friends in just ONE touch.”

Connectivity wise, the S3 has ’em all: Whether it’s 40MHz 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and  GPS with GLONASS reception. As far as software goes, it will be rolling out with Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich platform (AKA: Android 4.0), crammed with Samsung’s very own TouchWiz “Inspired by nature” UI running on top. In terms of radios, you will be getting the  HSPA+ flavor, but the 4G LTE magic will be out as well, both in North america and Japan (but not in Europe).

At first, you will get to choose storage capacities that range between 16 to 32GB, while the 64 gigs will follow later on. In addition you can either pick up the Pebble Blue color, or go all the way with the Marble White hue. There’s a very large 2,100mAh battery inside and a microSD slot expansion to double your storage, if needed. The Samsung Galaxy 3 will go live starting May 29, while US customers should be able to nab one somewhere around June.

Full PR after the break, along with the first Galaxy S III TV Commercial and a full video of the keynote event.

Update1: Looks like the most powerful Android smartphone to date, Samsung S3, is now officially available in 28 countries, including Germany and the UK. US launch is yet to be determined, but Sammy’s executives already been quoted saying their latest and greatest mobile device will go live worldwide “within a month.”

Update2: Samsung has just announced that the Galaxy S III will officially hit all five U.S carriers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular,  in the early days of June, with prices to be around $199 on contract.

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Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S III, the Smartphone

Designed for Humans and Inspired by Nature

Effortlessly smart and intuitively simple,

Samsung GALAXY S III reveals a new concept of smartphone

London, UK-May 3, 2012-Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced today the third generation GALAXY S, the GALAXY S III. Designed for humans and inspired by nature, the GALAXY S III is a smartphone that recognizes your voice, understands your intention, and lets you share a moment instantly and easily.

This sleek and innovative smartphone has the enhanced intelligence to make everyday life easier. With Samsung GALAXY S III, you can view the content like never before on the device’s 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display. An 8MP camera and a 1.9MP front camera offer users a variety of intelligent camera features and face recognition related options that ensure all moments are captured easily and instantly. Samsung GALAXY S III is powered by Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, with greatly enhanced usability and practicality to make life easier. Packed with intuitive technology, the GALAXY S III delivers a uniquely personalized mobile experience that refuses to be compromised.

“With the GALAXY S III, Samsung has maximized the consumer benefits by integrating superior hardware with enhanced smartphone usability,” said JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung. “Designed to be both effortlessly smart and intuitively simple, the GALAXY S III has been created with our human needs and capabilities in mind. What makes me most proud is that it enables one of the most seamless, natural and human-centric mobile experiences, opening up a new horizon that allows you to live a life extraordinary.”

Introducing Natural Interaction

The GALAXY S III enhances the interaction experience between the device and user. Smart enough to detect your face, voice and motions, the GALAXY S III adapts to the individual user to provide a more convenient and natural experience. With the innovative ‘Smart stay’ feature, the GALAXY S III recognizes how you are using your phone – reading an e-book or browsing the web for instance – by having the front camera identify your eyes; the phone maintains a bright display for continued viewing pleasure.

The GALAXY S III features ‘S Voice,’ the advanced natural language user interface, to listen and respond to your words. In addition to allowing information search and basic device-user communication, S Voice presents powerful functions in regards to device control and commands. When your phone alarm goes off but you need a little extra rest, just tell the GALAXY S III “snooze.” You can also use S Voice to play your favorite songs, turn the volume up or down, send text messages and emails, organize your schedules, or automatically launch the camera and capture a photo.

In addition to recognizing your face and voice, the GALAXY S III understands your motions to offer maximized usability. If you are messaging someone but decide to call them instead, simply lift your phone to your ear and ‘Direct call’ will dial their number. With ‘Smart alert,’ the GALAXY S III will also save you from trouble by catching any missed messages or calls; your phone will vibrate to notify missed statuses when picked up after being idle.

Easy and Instant Sharing
The Samsung GALAXY S III is more than a personal device that can be enjoyed by one user – it wants you to share and experience smartphone benefits with family and friends, regardless of where you are. With the new ‘S Beam,’ the GALAXY S III expands upon Android™ Beam™, allowing a 1GB movie file to be shared within three minutes and a 10MB music file within two seconds by simply touching another GALAXY S III phone, even without a Wi-Fi or cellular signal. The ‘Buddy photo share’ function also allows photos to be easily and simultaneously shared with all your friends pictured in an image directly from the camera or the photo gallery.

With ‘AllShare Cast’, users can wirelessly connect their GALAXY S III to their television to immediately transfer smartphone content onto a larger display. ‘AllShare Play’ can be also used to instantly share any forms of files between GALAXY S III and your tablet, PC, and televisions regardless of the distance between the devices. Under AllShare Play is also the ‘Group Cast’ feature that allows you to share your screen among multiple friends on the same Wi-Fi network; you can make comments and draw changes at the same time with your co-workers, witnessing real-time sharing on your individual device.
Human-centric Design with Uncompromised Performance

The GALAXY S III not only presents features with enhanced usability, but also provides an ergonomic and comfortable experience through its human-centric design. Its comfortable grip, gentle curves, and organic form deliver a rich human-centric feel and design. Inspired by nature, its design concept is the flow and movement of nature. The elements of wind, water and light are all evoked in the physical construct of the GALAXY S III. In its essence, the minimal organic design identity is reflected in the smooth and non-linear lines of the device. Available in Pebble Blue and Marble White at launch, Samsung will introduce a variety of additional color options.

 

With a 4.8″ HD Super AMOLED display, the GALAXY S III offers a large and vivid viewing experience. Samsung Mobile’s heritage Super AMOLED display even enhances to HD and 16:9 wider viewing angles. To ensure faster content sharing and connectivity, the GALAXY S III offers Wi-Fi Channel Bonding which doubles the Wi-Fi bandwidth.

 

The GALAXY S III also sports a range of additional features that boost performance and the overall user experience in entirely new ways. It introduces ‘Pop up play,’ a feature that allows you to play a video anywhere on your screen while simultaneously running other tasks, eliminating the need to close and restart videos when checking new emails or surfing the Web. Its 8MP camera features a zero-lag shutter speed that lets you capture moving objects easily without delay – the image you see is the picture you take. With the ‘Burst shot’ function that instantly captures twenty continuous shots, and the ‘Best photo’ feature that selects the best of eight photographs for you, the GALAXY S III ensures users a more enhanced and memorable camera experience. HD video can be recorded even with the 1.9MP front-facing camera, which you can use to capture a video of yourself. Improved backside illumination further helps to eliminate blur in photos that result from shaking, even under low lights.

 

Mobile payment is also accessible with the device through advanced Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The gaming experience is enhanced through ‘Game Hub,’ providing access to numerous social games, while Video Hub brings users high quality TV and movies. Furthermore, Samsung Music Hub will offer a personal music streaming service. Game Hub, Video Hub and Music Hub will be introduced in select countries initially and soon rolled out to global markets.

 

The Samsung GALAXY S III will be available from the end of May in Europe before rolling out to other markets globally.

 

For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

 

 

Note to Editors:

 

Samsung GALAXY S III Product Specifications

 

 

Network

2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz

4G (Dependent on market)

Display

4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED (1280×720) display

OS

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Camera

Main(Rear): 8 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BSI

Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera, HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BSI

Video

Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark

Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)

Audio

Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X

Additional

Features

S Beam, Buddy photo share, Share shot

AllShare Play, AllShare Cast

Smart stay, Social tag, Group tag, Face zoom, Face slide show

Direct call, Smart alert, Tap to top, Camera quick access

Pop up play

S Voice

Burst shot & Best photo, Recording snapshot, HDR

Google™ Mobile Services

Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude

Google Play Store, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies

Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk,

Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads

Connectivity

WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40

GPS/GLONASS

NFC

Bluetooth® 4.0(LE)

Sensor

Accelerometer, RGB light, Digital compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer

Memory

16/ 32GB User memory (64GB available soon) + microSD slot (up to 64GB)

Dimension

136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133g

Battery

2,100 mAh

* Specifications above may differ on the LTE version.

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

 

* Android, Google, Android Beam, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play Store, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads are trademarks of Google Inc.

tablets

Toshiba Launches Excite 10, 13 and 7.7 Android Ice Cream Sandwich Tablets

We’ve already heard a few details about Toshiba’s upcoming Excite tablets lineup (both in January and March of this year) but it is only now that the new series has been officially confirmed. Generally speaking, there are three new Excite flavors included: The 7.7-inch, the 10-inch, and the 13-inch (!). And while the Japanese Corp. hasn’t really made a big splash in their previous attempts to enter the market – Mainly for launching bulky, cheap looking, plasticy models – This time, though, it’s going to be different. Why? It’ll be different because this time Tosh is rolling out remarkably thin bunch of slates, powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS, 1GB of RAM, and NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core chipset.

The largest and most interesting slab out of the three versions being offered, is naturally the 13.3-inch Excite 13 tablet. A very courageous attempt by the Japs to go against the odds and toss in a massive device, bigger than anything that had been built so far in this very crowded category. Under the lid, you’ll find a 1600 x 900 pixel backlit LED display, made of Gorilla Glass materials, alongside a 13-hours battery, a full-sized SD slot expansion and duo cameras on the back (5MP) and up front (2MP). This one measures approx 10mm thick and weigh 2.2lbs in total. It will go on sale starting June 10, for $650 (32GB) and $750 (64GB).

The mid-size version is the Excite 10, which surprisingly features a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, paired with an 8.9mm chassis, similar camera aspects and the same full-sized SD card slot. this one will be equipped with a 10-hours battery and said to go live May 6th, priced at $500 for 16GB, $530 for 32GB, or $650 for the 64GB.

The smallest candidate, the Excite 7.7, packs a brilliant AMOLED screen display sized at the 7-inch range. It is certainly very thin and measures only 7.6mm thick and weigh JUST 0.84lbs. Nonetheless, it sports 1280×800 screen resolution, a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and a micro-SD slot expansion. Toshiba officials say it will hit the shelves June 10th as well, with prices starting at $500 for the 16GB handset and $580 for the 32GB option.

 

TOSHIBA SET TO EXCITE THE TABLET MARKET WITH NEW 10-, 13- AND 7.7-INCH TABLETS
Toshiba Introduces Three New Android-powered Tablets, Giving Consumers More Choice
IRVINE, Calif. – Apr. 10, 2012 – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the expansion of its Excite™ family of Android™-powered tablets with three new display sizes – 13.3-inch, 10.1-inch and 7.7-inch. The new Excite tablets boast thin-and-light designs, brilliant displays, quad-core performance as well as a full range of essential ports and smart features.

“One size does not fit all, so we are carefully considering how and where people are using tablets and designing form factors to best suit various needs,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “With amazingly thin and light designs, our new Excite family of tablets continues to incorporate what consumers have come to love about Toshiba tablets: essential ports for a more complete tablet computing experience plus durability that ensures they can go the distance.”

Powered to Perform, Built to Last and Designed to Excite
The three new tablets – Excite 10, Excite 13 and Excite 7.7 – feature elegant and sturdy aluminum shells and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass displays, making them not only stylish, but also durable. Powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which builds on the things people love most about Android – the tablets offer a simplified UI, easy multitasking, customizable home screens, resizable widgets and a full suite of familiar Google™ mobile services applications – as well as powerful new ways of communicating and sharing.
From scrolling and swiping the web, to the fast action of the latest games, the Excite tablets’ all-new NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processorsi deliver amazing multitasking, web, gaming and video. This innovative mobile processor features the world’s only 4-PLUS-1™ mobile quad-core CPU, providing users outstanding performance for even the most demanding applications. Apps run faster, games are played at console-quality, HD video is smoother, plus it features a unique 5th battery-saver core to handle everyday apps – extending battery lifeii.

Each tablet is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera on the back, along with a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter for convenient photography, video capture and chat. The tablets also include stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs, as well as Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity.

Excite 10: Smart, Speedy, Durable
An all-around tablet designed for home and away, the Excite 10 tablet delivers an exceptional visual experience, featuring a bright, high definition 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ LED Backlit display with 1280×800 resolution and 10-finger multi-touch support, making it an ideal choice for web browsing, reading, games and apps. Measuring just 0.35 inches thin and weighing just 1.32 poundsiii, the Excite 10 tablet is extremely portable and delivers up to 10 hours of battery lifeiv and seven days of stand-by.

Delivering more performance than previous generation tablets, the Excite 10 tablet is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processorv with GeForce graphicsvi and 1GB of RAMvii, opening up new possibilities for everyday multi-purpose use and next generation mobile games. Built to do more than the average tablet, users can enjoy easy syncing and sharing between all of their favorite devices, with a selection of built-in ports, including Micro USB, Micro HDMI® and a full-size SD card slot.

Excite 13: More Screen for More of Everything
Delivering more screen real estate than any other tablet on the market, the Excite 13 tablet offers a big, bright, higher resolution display, while delivering more room for everything else – from sharing photos and web browsing to playing games and watching movies with a group. Ideally suited for the home, from growing families to empty nesters, the Excite 13 tablet is only 0.4 inches thin and weighs 2.2 poundsviii, so it is still easy to carry.

With a 13.3-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ LED Backlit display with 10-finger touch support, the tablet boasts a cinematic 16:9 aspect ratio and 1600×900 native resolution, perfect for watching HD movies and videos. A four-speaker sound system with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs delivers amazing audio and an included tablet stand makes it easy to prop up on a table, kitchen countertop or coffee table to share videos with friends and family.

Not only great for movies, the Excite 13 tablet can power through the latest games and multitask with ease. Powered by the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 mobile processorix with GeForce graphicsx and 1GB of memoryxi, the large display tablet offers smooth, console-quality gaming plus the performance for high definition entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 13 tablet is targeted to deliver up to 13 hours of battery lifexii and seven days of stand-by. The Excite 13 tablet includes Micro USB, Micro HDMI® ports and a full-size SD card slot for syncing and sharing content.

Excite 7.7: A Brilliant AMOLED Display
Toshiba’s first tablet to feature an AMOLED display, the Excite 7.7 tablet is ideal for consumers on the go and is perfect for the mobile gamer and movie lover alike. The tablet’s brilliant 7.7-inch diagonal display brings games, movies, books and photos to life like never before with rich colors, deep contrast and amazing sharpness. Extremely thin at just 0.3 inches and light at only 13.4 ounces, Excite 7.7 fits easily into a bag or jacket.

Exceptionally powerful and able to tackle the latest games and HD content, the Excite 7.7 tablet is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 processor with GeForce graphicsxiii and 1GB of memoryxiv. The tablet includes a Micro USB port and a Micro SD card slot for syncing and sharing content.

The Convenience of Android and Exclusive Toshiba Apps
The new Excite tablets include a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including Google Play™, YouTube™, Gmail™ and Google Maps™. Additionally, the tablets come pre-loaded with a useful mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications, including TOSHIBA Book Place, which offers more than 3 million e-books, the TOSHIBA Media Player that supports content sharing, TOSHIBA File Manager, as well as Netflix™ and Zinio™, the ultimate app for magazine lovers and more.

Pricing and Availability
The Excite 10 tablet will be available for purchase on May 6, 2012 for $449.99 MSRPxv for the 16GB model, $529.99 MSRPxvi for the 32GB model and $649.99 MSRPxvii for the 64GB model.

The Excite 7.7 tablet will be available for purchase on June 10, 2012 for $499.99 MSRPxviii for the 16GB model and $579.99 MSRPxix for the 32GB model.

The Excite 13 tablet will be available for purchase on June 10, 2012 for $649.99 MSRPxx for the 32GB model and $749.99 MSRPxxi for the 64GB model.

These tablets will be available at major retailers, e-tailers and direct from Toshiba at ToshibaDirect.com.

Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/excitetablets.
Connect with Toshiba on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToshibaUSA, on Twitter at twitter.com/ToshibaUSA and on YouTube at youtube.com/ToshibaUS.

tablets

Acer Iconia Tab A510 Officially Coming Stateside with Tegra 3 and Android 4.0 On Board

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The Acer Iconia Tab A510 was out and about at CES 2012, back in January, but it’s only today that we’re getting an official announcement from the Taiwanese corp. The 10.1-inch Android 4.0 tablet that is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 3 processor, was specifically designed to replace the company’s Iconia A500 variant, and compete with top-notch tablets already available in the market. As of now, the A510 is up and available for pre-order in the US and Canada, in black or white flavors, starting at $450. Inside, you’ll find the most recent specifications, including that 1280 x 800 screen resolution, paired with a quad-core chip, 1GB of RAM, microSD slot expansion, 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel shooter on the back plus another one at 1 megapixel up front. The battery inside is claimed to provide up to 12 hours of continuous work, and the new tablet device will feature the Olympic Games logo engraved at the center of the rear coat. As we’ve already mentioned, it will launch with an Ice Cream Sandwich OS out of the box, but meanwhile until something else happens, you can hop past the jump to read the official word from Acer.

Update: It looks like the Iconia Tab A510 has finally gotten its hooks into Internet sales. The 10.1-inch Ice Cream Sandwich slate is now apparently available for purchasing at Acer’s US online store, and will set you back about $450.

 

Acer Iconia Tab A510 Tablet Delivers Quad Core Performance for High-End Entertainment and Productivity

Editor’s Summary:
* Acer first tablet with Quad Core Tegra 3 Processor
* Provides long battery life of up to 12 hours for video playback
* Pre-installed productivity solution: mobile office suite Polaris™ 3.5 and wireless printing app
* New tablet is first Acer Olympic Games Edition, exclusive design features Olympic rings
* Pre-sale starts now at $449.99 for 32GB Iconia Tab A510 in U.S. and Canada

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 22, 2012 – Acer America today debuts its first quad-core tablet in North America, the Acer Iconia Tab A510 with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. It is designed to deliver outstanding performance and a visually rich experience for mobile game playing and entertainment such as enjoying video and lifestyle apps.

In addition, the new 10.1-inch tablet Acer Iconia Tab A510 goes beyond what most people expect of their tablets to enable heightened productivity. The new tablet comes with the full suite of Polaris™ Office 3.5, which is compatible with Microsoft Office and allows reading and editing of various document formats for mobile access to important information. The new Acer tablet also includes Acer Print, so customers have a convenient and seamless way to print wirelessly from their tablet.

The first rate tablet experience is heightened with Android™ 4.0 OS (Ice Cream Sandwich) which features a more intuitive interface and improved overall performance for faster browsing, better multitasking, as well as enhanced app and folder management.

“The new Acer Iconia Tab A510 will exceed the expectations of customers who are ready to embrace using their tablets for more fun, entertainment and a first-rate mobile gaming experience,” said Paul Tayar, director of product marketing for connected devices, Acer America. “Our second-generation Acer A510 builds on the success of its award-winning predecessor with notable improvements in performance, responsiveness and ease-of use, elevating it to the status of ultimate mobile companion. Plus, the tablet will really surprise people with its comprehensive suite of productivity apps that will enable them to remain productive and connected on-the-go.”

Ultimate Performance with NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Quad Core Processor, Extended Battery Life
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 provides blazing speed and responsiveness powered by the NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Mobile Processor and high-performance 12-Core GeForce NVIDIA GPU. This processor provides a unique Super 4-PLUS-1™ Quad Core CPU design with a fifth Battery Saver Core that allows up to four cores to be dedicated to demanding tasks such as watching video and playing the next generation of graphics-intense mobile games.

These four cores provide up to 2.6 times the performance and up to three times the graphics performance compared to previous generation processors, making the tablet incredibly responsive with life-like and crisp visuals for mobile entertainment and console-quality gaming on-the-go. The processor also provides up to four times faster web-browsing, smooth navigation, and hardware-accelerated support for Adobe Flash 11, which comes pre-installed on the tablet.

When the tablet takes on everyday tasks, the fifth Battery Saver Core becomes engaged in place of the other four cores, ultimately using less power and improving battery life. The 9800mAh battery, one of the highest capacity models in the industry, further improves battery life, so customers can enjoy their tablet for up to 12 hours(1) of video playback.

Productivity Suite, Printing, Make A510 Tablet a Mobile Workstation
The Acer A510 tablet is packed with a full suite of productivity apps optimized for use on a tablet that will give any road warrior a much needed boost. The anchor of the suite is Polaris™ Office 3.5, which provides customers a premium way to read and edit various popular documents while providing enhanced integration with other tablet apps. It also features Evernote, the easy-to-use personal assistant that keeps customers organized by allowing them to capture and save web pages, photos, ideas and documents and then store them to the cloud for access from other devices.

With Acer Print, customers can print wirelessly from the convenience of their Acer tablet, unlike some tablets that require confusing or costly apps that don’t support a wide range of printers. Acer Print is compatible with 87 percent of brand name printers on the current market. In addition to supporting a variety of printing formats (doc, pic and browsers), Acer Print also shows the exact print layout on the screen, no matter if it’s a spreadsheet for work or coupons for grocery shopping.

Additionally, the Acer A510 can be taken to a meeting to deliver a presentation; it supports HDMI to VGA for quick connection to projector.

Thrilling Extras for Entertainment, Connectivity
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 highlights lifelike and compelling 720p visuals thanks to the gorgeous 10.1-inch WXGA (1280×800 resolution) HD display. The Acer A510’s 16:10 aspect ratio and wide 85-degree viewing angle ensure an optimal viewing experience that is further improved by Dolby™ Mobile 3 audio. Plus, the display is a 10-point touch capacitive screen, so it delivers a remarkable degree of accuracy and responsiveness.

In addition, customers can share video stored on Acer Iconia Tab A510 with other devices via the tablet’s built-in micro HDMI port. Blu-ray™ quality 1080p video in 30fps can be streamed from the tablet to an external display. Plus, the micro USB 2.0 port enables quick content transfers to and from the tablet. Plus, the new tablet has been enhanced with the ability to conveniently charge it from its USB 2.0 port via another USB 2.0 device.

The Acer A510 is packed with features customers want in a tablet. Its 1GB of RAM(2) contributes to its fast mobile performance. The new tablet comes with an integrated 32GB of flash storage(2) for ample storage of photos, music and videos. The Acer A510 also has a Micro-SD card reader that supports up to 32GB Micro-SD cards(2) that can access additional digital content.

The Acer Iconia Tab A510 keeps consumers connected to Wi-Fi networks with reliable Acer 802.11a/b/g/n wireless technology. Plus, the integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate) allows consumers to connect the tablet to a variety of other devices, such as headsets and printers.

The 1MP fixed-focused front-facing camera has an improved zoom, making it ideal for video conferencing. The 5MP rear-facing camera is auto-focusing, and provides the ability to take snapshots while recording HD video. Video clips and photos can be enhanced on the fly, stored and searched for based on various tags, and conveniently stored on Google+™.

The Acer Iconia Tab A510 is ready for hours of entertainment with popular pre-loaded apps such as Kindle™ for reading and Netflix™ for instant movie enjoyment. Google™ Music allows customers to create and enjoy their own personal playlists on their tablet. The preloaded Tegra Zone Android™ app brings customers direction to the best Android™ games that are optimized for NVIDIA Tegra powered tablets.

Intuitive Experience with Android™ 4.0 and Acer Ring, clear.fi
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 runs on Android™ 4.0 OS to deliver faster browsing, enhanced app and folder management options, more intuitive navigation, and a more polished design with enhanced holographic effects. Customers can easily customize their Acer tablet and will enjoy improved integration with Gmail™ email and calendar functions as well as improved multitasking and switching between tasks.

The Iconia Tab A510 features the unique interactive Acer Ring interface that can be customized to launch favorite apps, programs and websites. The Acer Ring one-touch button is always at the bottom of the display, so customers are always only a single touch away from what they care about most. It also features Screenshot, which can be used in any app to capture images of a web site, high score on a game, map and even a still from a video call.

Acer clear.fi is installed on the Acer Iconia Tab A510 to connect with any other DLNA-compliant device to quickly and easily share digital media. Clear.fi automatically connects all Acer devices on a network (smartphones, notebooks, desktops, HD media plays and storage devices) and gathers and organizes media files by type (video, music, photos, pre-recorded TV).

Olympic Edition Highlights Sleek, Usable Design
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 is a special Olympic Games Tablet Edition of the Acer Iconia Tab line. It features the Acer and Olympic logos on the chassis to celebrate the company’s sponsorship of the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games. The new tablet was designed with on-the-go usability in mind. The chassis’ soft-touch finish is comfortable to hold and buttons such as volume and screen lock are well-placed. It easily fits in a purse, briefcase or book bag, as it measures only 10.2(w) x 6.9(d) x 0.43(h) inches and weighs just over 24 ounces.

Available in U.S. and Canada Starting at $449.99
The new Acer Iconia Tab A510 is available for pre-sale starting today at national electronics retailers in the United States and Canada at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $449.99 USD and CAD. The premiere models are the Acer A510-10s32 (silver) and Acer A510-10k32 (black).

Customers can purchase the sleek protective case to protect the Acer A510 tablet. The snug-fitting design prevents slipping on surfaces and props it up for improved access for game-playing and typing. It also allows convenient access to the connectors and ports. It is available through Acer at a price of $39.99.

Media Players, Music

Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Plus Announced, Packs Dual-Core Processor Under The Hood

Samsung will be updating its Galaxy players lineup with a new upgraded Galaxy Player 70 Plus, a spec bumped version of the previous generation, commonly known as the Galaxy player. While the South Korean mobile giant doesn’t give any further details on availability, the 5-inch Android PMP device is likely to have a 1GHz dual-core processor on board, along with a reasonable 5-megapixel camera, a range of dedicated apps like Kakao Talk messenger and such,  a 2,500mAh rechargeable battery, and a DMB TV tuner for those in Korea. As for the price, the lowest capacity of 16GB is going to be retailed around 399,000 won (about $355), while the 32GB variant will be available for purchase at 469,000 won ($417). Hit the jump below for the full PR.

[Samsung]

 

Equipped with dual-core ‘plus 70 Galaxy players’ release

◇ 5.0 inch large screen, 1GHz dual-core processors operating environment provides a comfortable applying
◇ education in the area Wi-Fi, messaging, games, etc. using various functions

Samsung Electronics launched in March last year, ‘Galaxy player 70’ smart player that improves the performance of the new ‘Galaxy Player 70 Plus “will be released on the 5th.

‘Galaxy player 70 plus “with a 1GHz dual-core performance, upgrade the AP mount, and you can use two kinds of frequency bands supporting a dual-band Wi-Fi wireless internet access more convenient can.

In addition, students applying 5.0-inch large screen when viewing Internet lectures to clearly see the words on the blackboard, and Megastudy, Gangnam-gu · EBS lectures are also supported a variety of educational services. Gibontapjaedoen ‘diohdik dictionary’ and Samsung apps available for download at off the ‘Smart Edu’ there is an advantage.

Wi-Fi in the region ‘chaeton’, ‘kakaohtok’, etc. You can enjoy messaging services, including the gyro sensor tapjaedwae racing game you can enjoy more fine-grained operation.

In addition to the large 2500mAh battery, 5.0 megapixel camera, terrestrial DMB, external memory slot and the various support functions, 16GB/32B product’s selling price 399,000 won, respectively, is 469,000 won.

Samsung Electronics official said, “enhanced” 70 Plus Galaxy players’ emphasis on learning and messaging services to consumers that 10 is expected to gain popularity, “he said.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Player 70 Plus Backpack giveaway to celebrate the launch, product marketing, will conduct a variety of cheheomdan is a popular idol group Infinite Spiral TV commercials as a model will be unveiled later this month.

tablets

Toshiba Excite 10 LE Tablet Arrives Stateside March 6

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With so many tablets around, we have seen some good stuff from Toshiba lately. And guess what? We are all probably going to see a lot more; the latest, is a 10.1-inch tablet called Excite 10 LE, an updated version of the company’s Excite 10, that only recently got announced (and by “recently” we mean January). The 7.7mm thick device runs Android 3.2 version out of the box, but Tosh claims it will offer an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade sometime before the summer. In addition, it packs a LED backlit 1280 x 800 display, along with a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor, 16GB or 32GB flavors at your choice, micro-USB, HDMI output, WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, microSD card expansion, 5-megapixel camera on the back plus a standard VGA shooter up front. The 10 LE version will make its stateside official premiere on March 6th, while retail price is expected around $530 for the 16 gigs model, and $600 for the larger capacity slate. Full PR after the break.

 

Toshiba Brings World’s Thinnest 10-Inch Tablet to U.S. Market

World’s Thinnest and Lightest 10-inch Tablet, Excite 10 LE, Available for Purchase on March 6, Starting at $529.99

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that the Excite™ 10 LE tablet will be available for purchase from select U.S. retailers on March 6. Previously introduced as the Excite X10, the Excite 10 LE is the world’s thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing just 1.18 pounds (535g).

“We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.”

The Excite 10 LE tablet, powered by Android™, carries a starting price of $529.99 MSRP2 for the 16GB model and $599.99 MSRP for the 32GB model.
“Excite 10 LE embodies what a luxury tablet should be,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design.”

A More Premium Design with All the Essentials

The thin and light Excite 10 LE features a vivid high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ display3, delivering optimum browsing, reading and entertainment. Designed for durability and style, the device also features a high-quality magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display with an anti-smudge coating for greater resiliency.
The tablet also comes with an array of connectivity interfaces and ports on board, including micro-USB and HDMI® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity. Stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs deliver superior audio capabilities. Front and back HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and video chatting.

Smart Multicore Performance with Long Battery Life
Powered by the 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP™ 4430 multicore mobile processor4 and dual-channel memory, the Excite 10 LE offers smooth web browsing and multitasking plus the performance for high definition video and entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 10 LE delivers up to 8 hours of battery life.

Powered by Android

The Excite 10 LE tablet features Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and will be upgraded to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich later this Spring. Also included is a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including the Android Market™, YouTube™, Gmail™, Google Maps™, Music, Videos. Additionally, the tablet comes pre-loaded with a mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications including TOSHIBA App Place, TOSHIBA Book Place, TOSHIBA Media Player, TOSHIBA File Manager as well Netflix™ and Zinio™.

Docking and Accessories

Toshiba will also offer a suite of tablet accessories for the Excite 10 LE, including a docking station, multiple cases and more.

Specifications

• Android 3.2, Honeycomb (upgradeable to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS technology and 10-finger multi-touch support
• 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
• Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 multicore processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM
• 16GB and 32GB configurations6
• 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
• Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
• Micro SD card slot
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor
• Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs
• Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery
• 10.1″ (W) x 6.9″ (D) x 0.3″ (H)
• 1.18 pounds (535g)

Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/Excite10LE

tablets

Asus’s New Tablets Lineup ‘Transformer Pads’ Announced; Includes The TF Pad Infinity & TF Pad 300

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You didn’t really think that you could go a day at MWC Barcelona without a new announcement from Asus, did you?  Well, in case you missed that one from earlier this morning, the Taiwanese corp has just announced a rebranding of their well known Android tablets series to ‘Transformer Pads,’ and that it will launch two new tablet models, including the TF Pad Infinity and the TF Pad 300. While both versions look alike, the TF Pad Infinity is a powerful, high-end tablet, fashioned by Asus for 2012, while the TF Pad 300 is more of a cheaper low budget type. Both are said to be better than the 2 months old Transformer Prime tablet, in case you were wondering.

Alright, let’s dive into the nitty gritty stuff: The Transformer Pad Infinity will offer a dual-core Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 CPU under the lid (Tegra 3 chip is optional, but only with the Wi-Fi model), paired with a breathtaking 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200, Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass 2 display, 1GB of RAM, your choice of 16/32/64GB of storage, optional LTE radio, 8 megapixels camera on the back plus 2 megapixels imager on the front. The 8.5mm thick device will come out at the earliest Q2, preloaded with Ice Cream Sandwich platform out of the box.

The TF Pad 300 on the other hand, is expected to include “just” a quad-core Tegra 3 SoC, along with a standard 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS display, optional LTE radio, an HDMI out, Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS, a microSD card expansion and 16GB of internal storage, at most. The battery life is claimed to be around 10 hours of  continuous use on a single charge, while the back of the slate is mostly made of quality plastic, to be available in vibrant colors like blue, white and red.

No word on price or availability at the moment, but both machines are likely to go live with optional keyboard cradles. Meanwhile, you can hop along and read the full PR after the jump.

 

ASUS PadFone and upcoming Transformer Pad Lineup unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2012
ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih introduces the latest ASUS mobile devices and discusses his vision of ubiquitous cloud computing

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain (27 February, 2012) – At today’s “Incredibly Mobile Endless Possibilities” ASUS press event, Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the revolutionary PadFone and upcoming Transformer Pad lineup. “The time has finally arrived when every screen in your lives could transcend into a portal with real time access into your digital world,” said Mr. Shih as he introduced the ASUS PadFone which transforms into a three-in-one combination of a smartphone, a tablet and a notebook when accessorized with the PadFone Station and PadFone Station Dock.

The ASUS PadFone is an incredible 4.3″ smartphone featuring a Super AMOLEDqHD display, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core processor and an ultra-sharp 8-megapixel digital camera with Fuji image processor all wrapped in an exquisite design that is optimized for Google’s Android 4.0 operating system. When placed inside the optional PadFone Station, it transforms into a 10.1″ tablet with 5 times the battery capacity. The PadFone offers unmatched versatility via ASUS’ proprietary Dynamic Display technology which allows seamless transition between the PadFone and PadFone Station display screens. In addition, the PadFone Station offers an optional keyboard dock that essentially turns the PadFone into an ultraportable computing device. The PadFone also comes with the option of a PadFone Stylus Headset which is a Bluetooth stylus pen that transforms into a headset for picking up calls easily.

ASUS is redefining the future of mobile computing devices and is excited to announce the new and innovative ASUS Transformer Pad lineup. Offering three distinct models to fit the unique needs of mobile media consumers, ASUS believes in providing consumers with choices. The ASUS Transformer Pad lineup includes the ASUS Transformer Pad Prime and upcoming ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity series and ASUS Transformer Pad 300 series.

The Transformer Pad Infinity Series is poised to be the go-to tablet for HD mobile entertainment as it features an impressive 1920×1200 Full HD Super IPS+ display and ASUS SonicMaster technology. The 4G LTE* model comes armed with the powerful Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 Krait Dual-core 1.5Gh processor and is capable of download and upload speeds of up to 100Mbps and 50Mbps respectively. The WiFi model features the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor for incredible application and gaming performance. The Transformer Pad Infinity has a 2MP front camera for HD video conferencing along with an 8MP rear camera with a large F2.2 aperture, 5-element lens and LED flash for stunning high quality images or HD video capture.

The Transformer Pad 300 Series makes for an ideal mobile web surfing and gaming platform with its NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and high quality 10.1″ 1280×800 IPS display with either 4G LTE* or WiFi options. It features a 1.2MP front camera for video conferencing and an 8MP rear camera with a large F2.2 aperture, 5-element lens allows for high quality images along with HD video recording. The Transformer Pad 300 Series has battery life of up to 10 hours*, and that is extended up to 15 hours* with the optional keyboard dock.

tablets

Toshiba’s New Excite X10 Claims To Be World’s Thinnest Android Tablet

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Toshiba has officially announced a new sleek 10.1-inch tablet which sports a 1280 x 800  Gorilla Glass IPS touchscreen and said to be the world’s thinnest tablet in the market, to date, with a .3-inch thick and only 1.2-pound in weight. The new slate that goes by the name “Excite X10” is planned to include  a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor under the lid, along with 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2 for the Os (ready for an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade), WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a microUSB, microHDMI, GPS support and microSD card slot. The way it looks, there are two cameras, one 5 megapixel camera in the back of the tablet, and a 1.3 megapixel camera in the front. Your choices among the Excite offerings are the 16GB that will run $529.99 while the 32GB version will retail for $599. Full PR and video, courtesy of Notebooks.com,  just after the break.

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TOSHIBA UNVEILS PLANS TO BRING THE WORLD’S THINNEST 10-INCH TABLET TO THE US MARKET
Excite X10 Tablet Paves the Way for Premium Tablet Design by Achieving Ultra-thin and Light Form, While Maintaining Essential Ports and Features
LAS VEGAS – Consumer Electronics Show 2012 – Jan. 9, 2012 – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today revealed plans to introduce the ExciteTM X10 tablet, the world’s thinnest 10-inch tablet, to the U.S. market. Measuring in at just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing just 1.18 pounds (535g)1, this next- gen tablet offers a premium design with essential ports and features needed for a more complete experience. The Excite X10 tablet will be available in the U.S. starting in the first quarter of 2012.

A More Premium Design
Ultra-thin, ultra-light and ultra-powerful, the Excite X10 features a high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBriteTM display2, offering an ideal canvas for browsing and entertainment. Designed for durability and style, the device also features a high-quality magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display with an anti-smudge coating for greater resiliency.

“Excite X10 pushes the boundaries of what a thin and light tablet is capable of, delivering elegant styling without sacrificing features or durability,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division.

All the Essentials on Board
To connect with other devices, the Excite X10 tablet comes with all essential interfaces and ports onboard, including micro-USB and HDMI ® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi ® and Bluetooth ® connectivity. The micro HDMI port allows users to extend HD content from their tablet screen to a large screen HDTV. Front and back HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and conferencing. Stereo speakers enhanced with exclusive deliver superior entertainment capabilities.

“We see the tablet as a key device in a connected home ecosystem, so delivering not just a thin and light design, but one that also incorporates built-in ports, is a step toward making the connected home a reality,” added Pinto.

Smart Multicore Performance with Long Battery Life
Powered by the Texas Instruments OMAPTM4430 mobile processor3, the Excite X10 delivers smart multicore processing power without draining battery life. The multicore design features two ARM CortexTM A9 cores plus dual-channel memory for greater speed and efficiency, offering smooth web browsing and multi-tasking plus high definition video and entertainment.

To connect with other devices, the Excite X10 tablet comes with all essential interfaces and
ports onboard, including micro-USB and HDMI® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity. The micro HDMI port allows
users to extend HD content from their tablet screen to a large screen HDTV. Front and back
HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and conferencing. Stereo speakers enhanced with exclusive deliver superior entertainment capabilities.

Powered by the Latest Android Technology
The Excite X10 tablet is powered by the latest Android platform technology. Also included is a full suite of familiar Google Mobile Service applications, including the Android Market, YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, Music, Videos, plus select third-party applications including Netflix.

Specifications
— Latest Android technology
— 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS
technology and 10-finger multi-touch support
— 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
— Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM
— 16GB and 32GB configurations4
— 2 megapixel front-facing camera
— 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
— Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
— Micro SD card slot
— Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
— Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor
— Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs
— Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery
— 10.1″ (W) x 6.9″ (D) x 0.3″ (H)  1.18 pounds (535g)

Pricing and Availability
The Excite X10 tablet will be available in mid-Q1 2012 for a starting price of $529.99 MSRP5 for the 16GB model and $599.99 MSRP for the 32GB model at major U.S. retailers, e-tailers and ToshibaDirect.com.

tablets

Acer To Launch Iconia Tab A200 In North America For $330

Acer has just confirmed that it’ll be releasing Iconia Tab A200 Stateside, on January 15th, for merely $330. The 10-inch Android Honeycomb tablet which runs NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 SoC inside, along with a 1280 x 800 display, 8GB of internal storage (16GB version is $20 more), a 2MP front-facing camera and a built-in microSD card slot, is said to include a battery with up to eight hours of work time, and a full-sized USB 2.0 port, to shift your files from one place to another. In addition, we hear that Acer is said to be working on an Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) update that will go live somewhere around mid-February of 2012, but ’till then you can click the jump to read even more about it.

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Acer Expands Popular Tablet Lineup with Iconia Tab A200, A Full-Featured HD Tablet at an Attractive $329 Price

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 5, 2012 – Acer America today announced availability of the Iconia™ Tab A200, the latest addition to Acer’s line of full-featured Android tablets. The new 10.1-inch Iconia Tab A200 is a portable activity hub for gaming, e-books, movies, music, photography, social networking and more. Offered at the attractive price of $329.99, the Iconia Tab A200 will be available to U.S. customers on January 15.

The new Acer Iconia Tab A200 tablet enables customers to interact with and enjoy technology in ways that are both truly natural and exciting. Loaded with the latest edition of Android™ Honeycomb™ 3.2 operating system, the Iconia Tab A200 is user-friendly and extremely interactive with resizable app widgets and fun features the whole family can enjoy. The Iconia Tab A200 also comes with a free upgrade to Android 4.0 (known as Ice Cream Sandwich), which will be available in mid-February.

“The Acer Iconia Tab family of tablets is an excellent example of Acer’s ability to deliver high-performance, full-function mobile devices at unbeatable values,” said Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing manager for Acer America. “Acer brings the Iconia Tab A200 to consumers at an affordable price, without making sacrifices on key tablet features such as expansion, connectivity to other devices, HD displays and cameras.”

High-Quality Performance for Hours of Fun
Sleek and easy to hold, the Iconia Tab A200 weighs 1.5 pounds. The tablet is wrapped in a slim, titanium gray-colored casing, with an eye-catching patterned back side, which is soft to the touch. On the front, the A200 showcases a beautiful HD multi-touch display featuring crystal-clear 1280 x 800 resolution for an outstanding viewing experience.

Made especially for multimedia enjoyment, the Iconia Tab A200 packs hardware and apps for loads of fun. The tablet provides an enhanced level of performance with its NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 dual-core mobile processor and integrated GeForce™ GPU that allows users to enjoy HD gaming, 1080p video, Flash-based applications, faster browsing and multitasking.

Gamers of all ages will enjoy the preloaded Tegra Zone Android app, which allows users to search and download the best Android games that are optimized for NVIDIA Tegra powered tablets. The Iconia Tab A200’s fast gaming experience is also supported by a six-axis motion sensing gyroscope, essential for high-precision gaming so actions and animations are more correctly performed.

Users can enjoy up to eight hours of cable-free battery life , providing endless hours to surf the web, watch movies, play games and read e-books, far from the nearest electrical outlet. The Iconia Tab A200 comes pre-loaded with apps like Kindle for countless reading selections and Netflix for instant delivery of movie and entertainment titles. One tap on the Android Market allows users access to thousands of downloadable apps.

Packed with Practical and Fun Features
Offering superior expansion and connectivity, the Iconia Tab A200 has a full-size USB 2.0 port for hooking up other devices and a MicroSD slot and micro-USB port for passing data. A two megapixel front-facing web camera enables face-to-face chats or quick snaps for still photos. For an enhanced social networking experience, the Iconia Tab A200 includes Acer SocialJogger, which consolidates Facebook, Twitter and more into one spot.

The Iconia Tab A200 improves multitasking with the unique interactive Acer Ring interface, allowing users to customize their tablet experience by putting their most commonly used applications into one easy spot. Users can launch the ring by tapping the double circle located in the system bar, opening a series of key apps, settings, bookmarks or contextual menu options. The tablet also features Screenshot, which quickly captures web images, articles, Google Maps and even smiling faces from video calls. Screenshot can be used in any app for maximum convenience.

Acer clear.fi is installed on the Acer Iconia Tab A200 to connect with any other DLNA-compliant device to quickly and easily share digital medai. Clear.fi automatically connects all Acer devices on a network (smartphones, notebooks, desktops, HD media plays and storage devices) and gathers and organizes media files by type (video, music, photos, pre-recorded TV).

Affordable Pricing Starting at only $329.99
The Acer Iconia Tab A200 will be available in the U.S. on January 15 at national retail stores. The Acer Iconia Tab A200-10g16u with 16GB of memory has a manufactuerer’s suggested retail price of $349.99, while the Acer Iconia Tab A200-10g08u with 8GB of memory has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $329.99.

tablets

Archos To Release 70b Honeycomb Tablet in January 2012

It’s getting harder and harder to follow Archos these days. On the tablets front, at least. The company seems to be doing pretty well, bringing new variety of products into the market every month or so. Their latest in this area, that will certainly compete in the mid-range space, is the 70b Honeycomb tablet that will hit U.S retail shelves somewhere this coming January for $199, and reportedly will include a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage capacity, WiFi, HDMI out, a microSD slot and a powerful 1.2 GHz processor. There are plans for a direct Android Market access if you’re wondering, and we’re probably going to see a lot more of it at CES 2012. In the meantime, you can checkout the full PR right after the break.

 

DENVER, CO – (December 20, 2011) – ARCHOS, an award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, announced today the upcoming availability of the first android 3.2 ”Honeycomb” tablet under $200, the ARCHOS 70b internet tablet. The new ARCHOS 70b IT is an enhanced version of the ARCHOS 70 IT Gen 8 that features an upgraded capacitive touch screen and a powerful processor at 1.2 GHz.

The ARCHOS 70b internet tablet runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb, Google’s full suite of mobile applications with Android Market, giving users access to over 250,000 applications such as games, books, social media and news. With Honeycomb, users will have faster and smoother transitions between different applications, and more intuitive navigation to and from home screens.

Very slim and light, the newest version of the ARCHOS 70 internet tablet Gen 8, offers the best performances in terms of portability, immediate internet access, multimedia, apps and affordability. This new version has a higher resolution capacitive screen (1024 x 600) for vibrant colors and crisp clarity and has doubled the RAM to 512 MB for a smoother web experience and more efficient multi-tasking.

This connected mobile device with a sublime user interface, 3D Graphics accelerator and Wi-Fi connectivity, also comes with a full pack of connected apps such as a web browser and email application, HDMI output and Micro SD connectivity.

With this enhanced Android tablet, users will benefit from:
• An affordable price starting at $199 for 8GB
• Smoother multi-tasking and faster web experience thanks to the upgraded RAM
• Brighter colors with a high resolution capacitive screen
• Android 3.2 Honeycomb, the Android version designed for a tablet
• Access to a full array of apps with the Android Market and its 250,000 apps such as news, eMagazines, eBooks, social media, games and more
• A full multimedia experience with upgraded multimedia ARCHOS apps for video and music
• HDMI output, giving users full access to their Android experience on their TV including all the pre-loaded apps, video playback, 3D games, photos and all the Android Market apps

Availability & Price:
The ARCHOS 70b internet tablet will be available in stores starting in January with the recommended retail price of $199.

About ARCHOS:
ARCHOS, pioneer in the portable audio and video player market, and now specializing in Android Tablets, has repeatedly revolutionized the market for consumer electronics since 1988. Today, ARCHOS offers Android Internet Tablets, Tablet PCs and MP3/MP4 players. In 2000, ARCHOS launched the Jukebox 6000, the first MP3 player combined with a hard disk. Then in 2003 ARCHOS introduced the first portable multimedia players with TV recording. In 2006 Wi-Fi is implemented and then touch screens in 2007. In 2008, ARCHOS launched the first generation Internet Tablets, and then the first ever Android powered tablets in 2009. ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. ARCHOS is quoted on Compartment C of Eurolist, Euronext Paris, ISIN CodeFR0000182479. Website: www.archos.com.

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Operating Systems, Phones, tablets

Is Ice Cream Sandwich an Apple iOS Threat?

Google’s newest Android operating system version has had experts and users alike sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting impatiently for the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) to be delivered on mobile devices with all the bells and whistles of the ice cream truck. Users have delayed purchasing new mobile phones and tablets until the new operating confection was available. After all the headlines and the anticipation, does Android 4.0.- finally beat Apple’s iOS?

In some areas and functions, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” In other facets, it’s, well, “not yet.” While Ice Cream Sandwich does make user control of apps easier, animation less jerky and the interface more user-friendly, it can’t yet claim the fame of toppling iOS yet. But it’s getting there, and it’s our opinion that Apple should be getting very, very worried.

Improvements

First, the good news: Many of the Gingerbread snafus, glitches and hang-ups are gone. Smoother operations are the norm with Ice Cream Sandwich. However, there still are a few that we’ll outline below.

The separated, dedicated Function keys permanently resting at the bottom of the screen are tremendous time savers. You want to return Home? Press the key. Want to head back one screen? Press that key. Want terrific apps management? Press that dedicated key. Forget a screen full of icons that you can’t see when surfing or texting or writing a note: The dedicated function keys are offset and separated from the used screen area. They’re always there – unless you deliberately use a full screen operation.

The user interface is a major improvement from Gingerbread (2.3) to Honeycomb (3.0) to Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0). Logical organisation is the key phrase. While there is still a learning curve for new Android users, learning to navigate the device is much simpler and shorter than ever. It’s not quite as intuitive and familiar as Win 7 or as easy as iOS, but it’s a major step up from Android 2.2 Froyo, Android 2.3 Gingerbread or Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

Quirks and Glitches

Alas, while apps are much more easily managed in ICS, many apps don’t work with ICS: The apps are made for Gingerbread; many won’t even download onto an ICS-driven device. Overall, Android apps are much fewer in number than Apple apps, and with the ICS compatibility issue, the Android number just dropped even farther.

The touch controls for apps might be nicer, but the touch controls still have a minute lag that is absent in Apple iOS. It’s better than it used to be, but the lag is still there. Because of that barely noticeable but noticeable delay, Ice Cream Sandwich can seem rather sleepy at times.

Future Possibilities

Android developers are extremely responsive to glitch reports, so much so that Ice Cream Sandwich has moved from the 4.0 original version to 4.0.3 in just a few weeks. It won’t be long at all before Android OS is a true, heads-on competitor with Apple iOS.

tablets

Ainol Announces the NOVO7, World’s First Android 4 Tablet

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Ainol is a well known Chinese player, active in the low-budget tablets market. Frankly speaking, it has never been much of an interest for us, but today it definitely is, as the company announces the world’s first Android 4.0 tablet, or in its most friendly name: Novo7. The 7-inch capacitive touchscreen device which is supposedly based on Ingenic JZ4770 mobile applications processor and powered by a 1GHz XBurst CPU, runs Google’s latest and greatest Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS, and features a Vivante GC860 GPU clocked at 444MHz, along with a VGA front-facing camera plus a rear 2MP, microSD slot expansion (up to 32GB), USB 2.0, an HDMI output, WiFi, built-in G-senor and a battery that can deliver in one single charge 25 hours of video, or about 6-8 hours of continuous video playback work. The price, if you insist on asking, stands at $99 or just above the one hundred mark including shipping. Wouldn’t you get one, now that we’ve told you that? Anyway, while thinking about it hop on in for the full update and a quick video after the break.

 [Ainovo]

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tablets

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Goes Live in Early December With a Quad-Core Tegra 3 Processor On Board

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Asus is upgrading its Eee Pad Transformer Android tablet lineup, launching the Transformer Prime, a 10.1-inch Super IPS plus slate with the first Nvidia quad-core Tegra 3 CPU running on board. This powerful device, which packs the latest and greatest technology available on market at the moment, comes with a stunning 1280 x 800 10-inch IPS screen that claims for 178-degree viewing angles and Gorilla Glass cover on top. In addition, it has an 8.3mm-thick body that houses 1GB of RAM, a GPS navigation module, SonicMaster audio system, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS (update), and a 1.2 MP front-facing camera, paired with an 8MP lens, sitting on its back. The rear one can auto-focus at f/2.4, and is powered by a back-illuminated CMOS sensor that allows you to capture up to 1080p video frames. In terms of ports, you’ll find inside a mini-HDMI output, 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD slot, while the battery will deliver up to 12 hours in one single charge, and storage wise, you get to choose between the 32GB version that is about to retail this coming December for $499, or the 64 gigs that will set you back for $599. Finally, there’s an optional mobile keyboard dock, but you’ll obviously need to splurge $149 more. Naturally, it will ease your typing efforts and speed up your projects on-the-go. You will find an integrated USB 2.0 port built into it, and a full-sized SD card slot. It’s a Tegra 3 machine and we’re looking forward to testing it ourselves, furthermore. Until then, you can hit the jump and read the full PR blurbs, or so.

Update1: Checkout the Eee Pad Transformer Prime in action, running Shadowgun at buttery smooth speeds. Hit the break to watch the video.

Update2: Well, looks like the Eee Pad Transformer Prime is finally coming out Stateside, and already available for your pre-orders in places like Amazon, B&H Photo, Tiger Direct and Best Buy. That’s $500 for the 32GB version and $600 for the 64 gigster, remember?

Update3: We’ve just added a quick Ice Cream Sandwitch demo video running on the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Check it out after the break.

Update4: Looks like most Transformer Prime users are going to be very pleased with the latest news on the pipeline, as Asus officially announces an imminent release of the Ice Cream Sandwich update which is better known as the Android 4.0. It should start showing up all over the world whithin the next couple of hours, so stay tuned and get your brand new tablets ready.

 

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Motorola Xoom 2 Due Out in Europe Later This Year (Update: Now Official)

Oh look! There’s the Motorola Xoom 2, and it seems it’s now only couple of weeks away from landing on European store shelves. At least according to a recent Carphone Warehous flyer ad. And while most details are scarce, the second-gen Xoom tablet is said to include an 8.2-inch touchscreen, along with 16GB of internal storage, and Android 3.2 Honeycomb for the OS (any chance for Android’s Ice cream Sandwich platform?). Ireland is the first country to enjoy this system among the English-speaking countries, while the U.S and the rest of the world will probably follow few days later on, with prices starting at  €399.90 (about $545) for the WiFi-only flavor. Stay tuned or hit the jump to see the ad.

Update1: Xoom 2 is now official. Motorola has just unveiled it with a choice of either a 10.1-inch touchscreen device or an 8.2-inch Media Edition flavor, while both versions contain the same suite of specs, including a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a  1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and 5 megapixel on the back, Gorilla Glass displays on top and Ice Cream Sandwich update running under the hood (confirmed!). As already mentioned, both slates will make their official debut in the UK and Ireland this holidays season while global release is yet to be determined. Hit the break and watch the video.

Update2: We’ve just added a quick hands on video (courtesy of Knowyourmobile), featuring the two new tablets, so check it out after the break.

[via engadget]

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus Ready To Go Out Stateside

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If Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus looks awfully familiar to you, it’s probably because  it features the same exact interior and exterior dimensions as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (with relatively slight changes in screen resolution and cpu clocks peed), only this time, with plans to enter the US market. Oh! And there’s an extra “Plus” in the name. So what do you get inside? First and foremost, a 7-inch 1024 x 600 LCD touchscreen, paired with  a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 3MP camera with 720p HD video capture, Android 3.2 for the OS and for the time being only 16GB of storage (but you should all expect a 32GB version by the end of this year). As for pricing and availability, we’re looking at a November 13th release date, with a price of $399 for the 16GB flavor and possibly $499 for the 32GB model. Full PR after the break.

 

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Toshiba To Introduce a 7-inch Android Thrive Tablet

We’ve already seen a 10.-inch Toshiba Thrive version breaking cover in the mids of summer 2011, and now we have an official announcement about a new 7-inch tablet from the company that will allegedly go under the name Thrive 7. Design wise, it does seem to have quite a lot in common with the original ten incher, but in terms of specs there are quite a few changes. For instance, there are no full-sized ports anymore, due to the slim design (you’ll get mini-USB / micro-HDMI jacks and microSD slot), and the operating system is likely to be an Android 3.2 (instead of 3.1). Other than that, we have that same  Tegra 2 chipset, paired with a duo of cameras – 5MP on the back (this time with a LED flash) and another one at 2MP, up front. There’s still no word about pricing, but you’ll be able to nab one either at 16GB or 32GB sometime around Thanksgiving or early December. Hit the jump to read the full announcement.

Update: We’ve also added a quick hands-on video, courtesy of Donald Bell and good guys over at Cnet. Check it out after the break.

 

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Sony S and P Tablets Now Officially Official

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We have been hearing about Sony’s much-anticipated line of Android tablets ever since it first appeared as a quirky piece of mysterious sketches. And while the Japanese corp has officially announced it back in April, the REAL introduction came just four months later, at the 2011 IFA press event, earlier this week. Basically speaking there are two different tablets in this category: The Sony S (used to be called “S1”) that looks like a squarish curvy tablet device, and the Sony P (previously known as the “S2”), which is more of a clamshell design. Both tablets are running Android Honeycomb inside so in terms of use, the look and feel is very similar, though experience wise it is a whole different story – One has a single 9.4-inch touchscreen, while the other packs dual five-inch 1024 x 480 displays. In addition we’ve been told they are both planned to go out in Europe at the end of September and November, respectively, with prices set at €479 and €599, while a US release is still unconfirmed but strongly suspected within weeks (for $499 and $599).

Drilling Down to the nitty-gritty details, the Sony P, the one with the two 5-inch screens (we know, it’s confusing), is said to include a dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 SoC chip, 5MP rear camera plus a VGA on front,  a 3,080mAh battery, an HSPA/radio, 4GB of internal storage, a micro-USB hub, 3.5mm jack and an SD card slot. The dual screens can both work together or in some cases, independently, while the Android 3.2 platform (the powerhouse behind the Sony P) seems to be running smoothly, all over the place, and at all times!

The second device, the Sony S, comes with a traditional tablet design, on first look, but there’s a typical Sony twist out there, when you get to show it off – especially on sides and behind. As mentioned, it boasts a 9.4-inch (1,280 x 800) IPS display with Sony TruBlack Bravia TV technologies, Android Honeycomb OS, 16GB or 32GB of storage capacities at your choice, WiFi,  Bluetooth, and a full-sized SD card slot. There’s also a Terga 2 chipset under the hood, along with a nice volume rocker on the side, and a battery that provides long hours of intense working time.

Make sure to check out the two videos after the jump, courtesy of netbooksnews.com and our friend Sascha, from the 2011 IFA conference in Berlin.

Update1: And looks like Sony’s S version (the one with the bigger screen), is now officially available for a pre-order both in Amazon and Sony’s own site, with shipping due to September 16th, and prices set at $499 and $599, depends on storage size.

Update2: Good news fellow readers, Sony has cut the price of its latest and greatest 9.4-inch Tablet S by a single Benjamin ($100), a 16GB model will run you $400 and the 32GB version will set you back for $500. Now that’s a competitive move, isn’t it?

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Officially Introduced

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Samsung has just introduced its latest entry, the Galaxy Tab 7.7. The South Korean giant, which seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment, announced this new Android tablet device with an Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) operating system, running on top of a a 7.7-inch (1280 x 800) Super AMOLED Plus display, featuring Samsung’s TouchWiz UX layer beneath, a powerful dual-core 1.4GHz processor, an HSPA+ radio, a microSD card slot, up to 64GB of storage, 802.11n WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, front and rear 2.0MP/3.0MP cameras and a 5,100mAh battery, providing merely 10 hours of work. And while the line of specs is definitely impressive, we’re still on a hunt for the price and availability of this new, upcoming 0.74-pound and 7.89 mm thin slab. Full PR is only few lines away, after the break.

Update: We’ve also added after the break a quick hands-on video, courtesy of Steve Chippy and the good guys over at carrypad.com.

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Archos Officially Rolls Out Arnova 7 G2 and 10 G2 Tablets in Hong Kong

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If you guys think that Archos has given up the tablet wars,  you need to do some extra thinking. In this context, it is widely reported that the French corp has just released its second-gen Arnova tablets, the Arnova 7 G2 and 10 G2 (in Hong Kong), both equipped with 7/10-inch capacitive touchscreen(!) displays, a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, a standard-size USB port, fully functional MKV file playing, and Google’s Android Gingerbread platform running on board. And while a US release is still in the pipeline, Hong Kong prices are set at HK$1,680 (about $215), and HK$1,980 (about $250), respectively. Capacitive touchscreens, no kidding, eh?